Putto aan de waterkant 1618 - 1655

"Putto aan de waterkant" (1618-1655) is an etching by the Flemish artist Cornelis Schut (1597-1655). This small, detailed work depicts a winged putto (a chubby, nude cherub) sitting on a rocky outcrop with a reed in its hand. The putto gazes intently at something off-screen, while the scene is enlivened by a group of small putti swimming in the water at the bottom of the etching. The piece is housed in the Rijksmuseum and is a beautiful example of Schut's skill as a draftsman. The etching exemplifies Schut's interest in mythological and allegorical subject matter, common in Baroque art.