Cartouche met twee maskers c. 1654 - 1678

Jacob Lutma created this print, "Cartouche with Two Masks," in the Netherlands during the 17th century. But what exactly is a cartouche? And why does it feature masks? Cartouches, often seen in architectural and design contexts, were essentially ornamental frames or panels, frequently bearing inscriptions or heraldic symbols. They were visual markers of status and identity. The masks introduce another layer of meaning, alluding to classical theater and the performance of social roles. The Dutch Republic in Lutma’s time was a society grappling with new ideas about citizenship and public life. Prints like this, circulated widely, were not simply decorative. They offered a visual vocabulary for understanding the world. We might look to emblem books, architectural treatises, and even playbills of the period to understand how these images functioned in their time. The real meaning of art lies not just in the image itself, but in the swirling currents of social and institutional life that gave it shape.