Drie putti spelen een bordspel c. 1700 - 1750

This anonymous print, “Three Putti Playing a Board Game,” shows us the playful side of art in the Dutch Republic. The image presents three putti, or cherubic figures, deeply engrossed in a game atop a stone plinth. Above them, a statue of a winged figure stands as a silent observer. The presence of putti playing games in art speaks to a culture that sought to blend moral instruction with amusement. These images often graced the homes of the Dutch middle class, reflecting their values and aspirations. Prints like these were not just decorative; they were conversational pieces, sparking dialogue about values and the roles of children within Dutch society. Examining the print's circulation and reception helps us understand the social and cultural life of the time. By consulting period documents and studies of Dutch domestic life, we can discover how art both reflected and shaped the cultural landscape of the Dutch Golden Age.