Astronomie 1750 - 1778

Georg Leopold Hertel created this print called ‘Astronomie’ sometime in the 18th century. The image features two cherubic figures set amongst clouds, one peering through a telescope, the other resting on a globe. Hertel was working in a period where the rococo style was fashionable, emphasizing playful, ornate designs that were intended to evoke delight. The figures in ‘Astronomie’ are clearly in line with that, but I always wonder if we can also read these images of putti as an expression of something about the labor of childhood, and the loss of innocence. What narratives are being constructed around childhood itself? Think about the romanticized yet asexual representation of children, particularly young boys, in art and how that reflects broader societal attitudes towards innocence, knowledge, and power. Looking at the artwork now, I think about the long history of denying children agency, particularly in the 18th century.