Putti 1755

This is a wooden sculpture of a putto, or cherubic child, by Johann Georg Pinzel, who was active in the mid-18th century. Pinzel was a master of the Late Baroque style in what is now Western Ukraine, then part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Religious institutions were expanding and needed art. Pinzel's sculpture can be understood as a product of this time and place, where the Catholic Church sought to impress and inspire its followers through elaborate ornamentation. Carving these figures was hard work, so Pinzel's workshop had assistants helping him. The putto has a dynamic pose and expressive face. It is not idealized, but rather has a realistic, even earthy quality. This sets Pinzel apart from many of his contemporaries. This reflects a sensibility that valued emotional intensity and dramatic effect over classical harmony. To understand Pinzel better, we need to research the religious and artistic context of his time, exploring the archives of the Catholic Church, and the work of other artists active in the region.