Twee putti 1671 - 1726

This is an engraving of two putti of unknown date by an anonymous artist, now located in the Rijksmuseum. These chubby figures, with their playful gestures, were a common sight in the art of the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Often seen in religious and mythological scenes, these cherubic figures weren't just decorative; they were deeply entwined with cultural ideals about innocence, beauty, and even power. Look closely, and you might notice how their bodies, though small, are rendered with a kind of robust physicality. The putto represents a complicated negotiation of innocence and a distinctly gendered form. These images reflect the complex ways in which childhood, masculinity, and divinity were imagined and represented. What does it mean to see such figures detached from their usual context, floating in the blank space of the page? How do we feel about these cherubic figures?