Titelpagina voor: Joannes Le Francq van Berkhey 'Gedichten', 1776 1776

Reinier Vinkeles created this print in 1776 as a title page for a book of poetry by Joannes Le Francq van Berkhey. It shows a group of cherubs, common figures in art of this period, engaged in artistic pursuits. One reads, another plays a flute, and a third holds a laurel wreath of honor. This scene reflects the cultural values of the Dutch Republic in the late 18th century, emphasizing the importance of the arts and sciences. The presence of cherubs evokes classical antiquity, a source of cultural authority for artists and writers. It was made in a period of economic decline, during which the Dutch tried to maintain their cultural status. Institutions like museums, literary societies, and art academies played a crucial role in shaping cultural identity, and this print, serving as the title page for a book of poetry, participated in this cultural landscape. Looking into the social and institutional contexts in which art is produced allows us to understand better the values and aspirations of a given time. In this case, resources such as historical society records, exhibition catalogs, and biographies of artists and writers could shed further light on the cultural meaning of this image.