Twee putti, met passer en aesculaap, bij het familiewapen van Schoemaker 1773

This print, made in 1773 by Reinier Vinkeles, depicts two cherubic figures flanking the Schoemaker family crest. Vinkeles worked during a time of social and political upheaval, as Enlightenment ideals began to challenge the established hierarchies of European society. Heraldry, like that displayed on this crest, was an integral part of aristocratic identity. Coats of arms weren't just decorative; they were powerful symbols of lineage, status, and privilege. This imagery reinforced social boundaries, often excluding women and those not part of the nobility. The putti, or cherubs, often symbolize innocence and divine favor. Yet, here they are intertwined with symbols of earthly power, and instruments associated with medicine and trade. The image encapsulates the complex interplay between tradition, religion, and emerging bourgeois values in the 18th century. It makes you wonder, who gets to write their history, and whose stories are left out?