Putto at the left hold aloft grapes,another seated at the right holding an urn, an allegory of the seasons (Summer), an oval composition 1650 - 1680

This allegorical print of summer, featuring putti with grapes and an urn, was created by an anonymous artist. As an allegory, the image’s symbolism offers us insight into cultural values. The cherubic figures, traditionally gendered as male, and their association with abundance and fertility reflects a classical ideal of masculine virility. The historical context of such imagery is tied to notions of power, lineage, and patriarchal structures. The putti appear outside, yet the artist's attention to their soft skin and round forms contrasts with the rudeness of the landscape. The image’s smooth surface speaks to the class status of those who commissioned and consumed such imagery. Ultimately, this print invites us to consider the complex ways in which idealized representations of the body intersect with broader social and economic hierarchies. What do the putti mean to you?