Titelprent met putti 1609

This print, made by Raffaello Schiaminossi around the year 1600, features playful putti, cherubic figures common in Renaissance and Baroque art, which frame an inscribed tablet. These putti, often associated with love and innocence, trace their lineage back to ancient Roman depictions of Cupid and Psyche. Observe the putto at the top, holding what appears to be a bow. This motif echoes the classical Cupid, and it appears in Botticelli's "Primavera," where Cupid's arrow causes uncontrollable desire. Here, however, the putto seems to be breaking the bow. The act of breaking a bow or arrow may signal a transition from conflict to peace. This symbol is not linear, but one of constant return and re-evaluation, shaped by the ever-changing currents of human experience. These symbols are not static; they evolve, adapt, and resurface.