Vier liggende ovale cartouches met putti op zeewezens 1573 - 1610

Christoph Jamnitzer's print presents four oval cartouches teeming with putti astride fantastical sea creatures, rendered with the precise lines of the engraver's tool. These winged figures, classical motifs, evoke a sense of playful power over the aquatic realm. The recurring image of the putto riding mythical beasts links back to ancient Roman depictions of sea triumphs, where gods and heroes commanded marine processions. Note the serpent-tailed horse, or hippocampus, its form echoing through centuries from Hellenistic mosaics to Renaissance fountains. This fusion of human and animal, terrestrial and aquatic, speaks to a deeper yearning to reconcile opposing forces within ourselves. The playful yet assertive nature of these images suggests a cultural memory of dominance, yet the vulnerability of the cherubic figures hints at the subconscious anxieties tied to control and power. This symbol surfaces and evolves, reflecting our ever-shifting relationship with the world.