Ornamentele vaas omringd door putti, draperie en leeuwen 1764

This is Benigno Bossi's "Ornamental Vase Surrounded by Putti, Drapery, and Lions," made with etching and black ink. Bossi, an Italian artist working in the late 18th century, was deeply influenced by the decorative arts and the prevailing Neoclassical tastes of his time. Look closely, and you’ll see how putti, those cherubic figures, frolic around a vase, draped theatrically. The inclusion of lions is an interesting symbolic choice, referencing strength, but perhaps also, when paired with the nakedness of the putti, a sense of vulnerability. Bossi’s print speaks to the era’s fascination with antiquity and idealised forms, but also hints at the complex relationships between power, innocence, and display that coursed through the aristocratic societies he served. It captures a moment in time that, while seemingly innocent and playful, is laden with the weight of cultural expectations and societal roles.