Vaas met fries op voetstuk c. 1650

This etching by Georges Tournier depicts a vase adorned with a frieze, resting on a pedestal. Note the cherubic figures harvesting grapes, a direct reference to Bacchic revelry and fertility. The image of children engaged in harvesting, often associated with the vintage, finds echoes across time. Think of Roman sarcophagi depicting similar scenes, celebrations of life’s abundance and cyclical nature. Yet, such imagery is not confined to antiquity; it resurfaces in Renaissance paintings, symbolizing earthly pleasures and the fruits of labor. It is fascinating how the innocent, playful act of harvesting can carry deeper, almost subconscious undertones. This motif evolves, its original associations intertwined with notions of innocence, pleasure, and even the transience of life. This piece evokes an emotional connection, tapping into our collective memory of fertility, joy, and the inevitable passage of time.