Op een fluit spelende putto 1813

Catharina Kemper created this understated drawing, titled *Op een fluit spelende putto*, or *Putto Playing a Flute*, using pen in brown ink. The cherubic figure of a *putto* draws on a long history of representing innocence and divine love. Here we see a more intimate, humanized version, capturing a moment of quiet musicality. Kemper, as a woman artist, navigates the boundaries of traditional artistic roles. While mythological and religious subjects were common, her personal touch and focus on the gentle humanity of the *putto* offer a unique perspective. In a time when artistic expression was often dictated by gender, Kemper's work subtly challenges these norms, inviting viewers to reflect on the intersection of identity, artistic expression, and cultural expectations. The drawing is rendered with such fine lines that the softness of the *putto* is almost palpable. Kemper captures an essence, a quiet contemplation, which resonates beyond the artwork's simple subject.