Putti aan weerszijden van een familiewapen 1750

Jan Wandelaar created this print, “Putti aan weerszijden van een familiewapen,” sometime in the first half of the 18th century. During the Dutch Golden Age, heraldry was more than a display of family lineage; it was a symbol of power, status, and belonging in a society deeply structured by class. Wandelaar’s piece, with its cherubic figures flanking a family crest, thus visualizes the aspirations and self-image of the Dutch elite. Observe how the putti, those symbols of innocence, are co-opted to glorify worldly status. Their presence, bearing arms, underscores the intertwining of religious and secular values in Dutch society. The family crest itself is a canvas where identity is consciously constructed. This print offers us a glimpse into the visual language of identity. It makes us question the stories we tell ourselves and each other about who we are.