Drie putti bij een aambeeld 1767 - 1780

Bernhard Schreuder created this sepia ink drawing titled 'Three Putti by an Anvil,' likely during the 18th century. At the time, the Dutch Republic, while a major economic power, was experiencing internal political struggles. The cherubic figures, or putti, contrast sharply with the harsh reality of labor they seem to be enacting. One putto hammers at an anvil, another works the bellows, and a third sits idly by, as though the task is of no concern. This image prompts us to consider the cultural significance of labor and innocence. The cherubs may be seen as personifications of labor but also as figures of childlike naivete, detached from the toil’s implications. This representation invites us to reflect on the romanticized depictions of labor and the roles individuals play within a system. It evokes a sense of longing for a simpler time, even as it acknowledges the complexities inherent in any work.