Putti in een bibliotheek 1712

Editor: So, this print, "Putti in een bibliotheek," made in 1712 by Bernard Picart, depicts a bunch of cherubs in a… well, a library. It's so detailed for an engraving! I'm initially struck by how playful yet studious it feels. What's your take on it? Curator: Playful is spot on. It's a baroque daydream! Look at those putti, almost excessively engaged with the books – climbing ladders, peering into massive volumes. There's a delightful sense of organized chaos. The globe too... Makes you wonder about the world's knowledge as a playground for the imagination, doesn't it? What I really see is Picart turning the heavy weight of learning into something almost absurdly joyous. Does that resonate? Editor: Definitely! It's like knowledge is this boundless game. The cherubs aren't just learning; they’re *in* it, totally immersed. Is the empty frame at the top part of this idea? A blank slate for possibilities? Curator: Ooh, a blank slate is perfect! Maybe an invitation. Maybe Picart is nudging us, like a sly librarian, whispering, "Go on, what are *you* going to learn?" It feels to me like he’s suggesting knowledge isn’t about answers, but about a process of discovery, playful engagement, imagination, like these putti at play. Editor: I love that— a process! It’s way more inspiring than just thinking about facts and dates. I’m going to approach the rest of the exhibition that way, with that same sense of imaginative play! Curator: Do. The world, like this library, becomes a much more interesting place to explore, when you view knowledge as a constant invitation!