Fries met een kind en twee putti before 1689

This is an engraving of unknown date by an anonymous artist, depicting a frieze with a child and two putti. The image presents us with some interesting contradictions that we can explore through a better understanding of social and cultural history. Here, putti, often associated with innocence and divinity, are juxtaposed with chains that run along the base of the frieze. This contrast invites speculation about the role of such imagery in its time. Was it meant to be purely decorative, or did it carry deeper symbolic meanings related to power, constraint, or perhaps the burdens of innocence? Understanding the context in which this engraving was made—its intended audience, its place within artistic conventions, and its potential relationship to social or political issues—requires further research into similar works, print culture, and the symbolic language of the period. This will give a richer understanding of the social and institutional contexts that gave rise to this compelling work.