Cartouche met twee putti die een boek vasthouden c. 1628

This print, "Cartouche met twee putti die een boek vasthouden," by H. Picart features two putti holding a book above an ornate cartouche. The putto, that cherubic figure, appears throughout antiquity and the Renaissance, often signifying divine love and intellectual inspiration. Here, they flank the book, an ancient symbol of knowledge and revelation. We see the book not only as a vessel of written wisdom but as a sacred object, elevated by these celestial beings. Think of the tradition of illuminated manuscripts, where each page was a work of art, imbued with spiritual significance. The putti holding the book remind us of similar motifs throughout history, such as winged figures in ancient Near Eastern art protecting sacred trees or symbols. These images tap into our collective unconscious, evoking a sense of protection and reverence. This image, therefore, is not just a design but a confluence of deeply rooted cultural memories.