Ornamenten en in het centrum putti met een hoorn des overvloeds in de hand 1719

Editor: Here we have Bernard Picart's "Ornamenten en in het centrum putti met een hoorn des overvloeds in de hand," created in 1719. It's an engraving. It strikes me as celebratory and overflowing with imagery – it’s hard to know where to look first! What symbols or motifs do you find particularly interesting in this work? Curator: The cornucopia is certainly a potent symbol. Overflowing with fruit and flowers, it represents abundance and prosperity. Notice how it’s being held by putti. In art history, the putto goes beyond just the angelic figure to become a carrier of classical memory, and a representation of a renewed golden age of prosperity. Where else might you have seen such images employed? Editor: Hmm…I guess in political propaganda from the time, associating the regime with peace, freedom, and prosperity. Curator: Exactly! Now consider the phrases above: "Libertas et pace" and "Ex foedere." Freedom and peace through treaty or alliance. In the context of the 18th century, such treaties are fragile, and so too are the promises of "freedom" or "peace." The garlands also point towards cyclical hope, something celebrated and equally fleeting. It makes one wonder who the grotesque, mascaron-like head below might be: is it the head of liberty devoured, or simply an ornament? Editor: That’s fascinating – I hadn't considered the darker implications. So, it's not just a decorative piece; it's conveying a complex message about power, promise, and maybe even warning? Curator: Precisely. Consider the psychological weight these images carried; they were meant to inspire a sense of optimism but also a reliance on the existing social order that brought about those values. Editor: I'll definitely look at baroque art differently now, considering the layers of symbolism at play! Thanks. Curator: And I, at least, will find a new place to reflect on fleeting ideals in everyday images.