Bladornament met putti (rechter deel) 1688 - 1698

This is a small, anonymous ornamental design, made without a specified date, featuring putti. In Western art history, putti—those chubby, winged infant figures you see here—have often been associated with innocence, love, and divine presence, yet their history is deeply entwined with complex social dynamics. During the Renaissance and Baroque periods, when this type of ornamental design flourished, the image of the putto also served as a symbol of wealth and power, often commissioned by the elite to decorate their homes and objects. These images idealized childhood, while the lived reality for many children included poverty, labor, and high mortality rates. Consider the artist, whose identity is lost to us, and who, through the act of creation, participated in perpetuating the values of their time. This piece invites us to reflect on the stories we tell ourselves about childhood, divinity, and beauty, while challenging us to remember the lives and histories that are often unseen.