Auf einer Wolke sitzender Putto in Untersicht 

Editor: Here we have "Auf einer Wolke sitzender Putto in Untersicht," or "Putto Sitting on a Cloud, Seen from Below," a red-chalk drawing by Correggio. The softness of the chalk gives the figure a dreamlike quality. How would you interpret this work? Curator: This sketch embodies a High Renaissance fascination with idealized form and celestial themes, particularly *putti*, which are these chubby, winged infants so prominent in Renaissance and Baroque art. They are rarely simple decorations. The upward perspective, the *sotto in su*, creates a sense of ascension, an opening to the divine. How do these combined symbols resonate with you? Editor: The putto reminds me of innocence and playfulness, like Cupid maybe. But the upward perspective gives it a sense of the divine, so almost like an angel? Curator: Precisely! The *putto* evolved from the pagan Cupid and transitioned into the Christian angel, embodying both earthly love and divine presence. Correggio’s genius lies in his synthesis of these symbolic languages. What emotions does that combination evoke for you? Editor: I guess it's less playful now, with the angel association. More reverent, thoughtful…even hopeful. It’s fascinating how symbols change their meaning over time. Curator: Exactly! It reveals how cultural memory and continuity exist through these visual shorthands. Today's reading might focus on nostalgia for lost innocence, a longing for simpler, perhaps more spiritually connected times. What I learned here is how we still want that today! Editor: Absolutely. It’s interesting to see that constant thread through history, linking then and now through imagery. Thanks for shedding light on that!