Cartouche met twee putti 1634

Daniel Rabel created this cartouche with two putti, sometime in the early 17th century, using engraving. The black and white image immediately draws your eye to its intricate and ornamental design. The cartouche is not merely a frame, but an active structure, with swirling, ribbon-like forms adorned with putti. The putti, symbols of innocence and divine love, playfully interact with the frame. Inside this elaborate border, a landscape unfolds, complete with buildings, figures, and a serene sky. This juxtaposition destabilizes our perception of space. The outside landscape is brought into a constructed, artificial frame, challenging the traditional boundaries between nature and artifice. The ornamental details like fruit garlands introduce elements of semiotic meaning, hinting at abundance and fertility. Ultimately, Rabel's work invites us to consider the boundaries between the natural and the artificial, the sacred and the secular, creating a complex interplay of meanings that reflects the intellectual currents of his time. It's a piece that reminds us that art is not just about representation, but also about the active construction and challenging of meaning.