Man en vrouw zittend bij vuur, opgestookt door putti 1641 - 1695

Nicolas Perelle created this print, "Man en vrouw zittend bij vuur, opgestookt door putti," in the late 17th century. The print depicts a classical scene where love, in the form of putti, attends to the desires of men and women. The male figure dominates the composition with his back turned to us, a not so subtle display of masculine power. The gaze of the woman beside him directs us to the putti, who stoke the flames and fan the desires of the couple. Another putto struggles to carry a bundle of sticks to feed the fire. Are we to read his labour as the uneven burden love places on us? Perelle was active during a time when gender roles were highly codified. While the scene draws on classical imagery, it reflects the period’s views on love, desire, and labor. How might the seemingly innocent image subtly uphold societal expectations around gender and relationships?