Putto loopt verliefd een andere putto na 1686

Jan van Vianen made this print, “Putto loopt verliefd een andere putto na”, which translates as "Putto runs after another putto in love," around the turn of the 18th century. This emblem conveys the popular Baroque theme of love, embodied here in the form of a putto, as a pursuit. But what are the social implications of depicting love this way? The image was made in the Netherlands, a republic where visual culture was closely tied to commerce and to moralizing Christian values. The chase depicted here may reflect complex debates around desire, sin, and redemption. Is the chasing putto being impetuous, or is the chased putto being coy? We might want to consult emblem books, sermons, and other visual art from this period to understand the full range of possible meanings. The social lives of images depend on context.