Putti Near A Forest Brook c. 1870

Hans Makart painted 'Putti Near A Forest Brook' with oil on canvas in the late 19th century. Here, putti – those chubby, winged infants – frolic near a forest brook, embodying innocence and carefree joy. These figures, derived from classical antiquity, evolved into Christian cherubs, often symbolizing divine love and playfulness. Yet, their presence here, nestled within a Romantic, nature-filled scene, evokes a sense of primal innocence, echoing the pastoral scenes of antiquity. Consider, for example, the symbolic weight of water. Here it’s a life-giving force, cleansing and pure, much like the putti themselves. The cyclical nature of symbols reveals itself: from pagan cupids to heavenly cherubs, to embodiments of natural joy, these figures tap into our collective memory, engaging our emotions and subconscious. This timeless dance of symbols illustrates the ever-evolving, yet eternally relevant, power of visual language.