Twee putti bij Hollandse Leeuw 1797 - 1836

Editor: This is "Two Putti with the Dutch Lion," an engraving from somewhere between 1797 and 1836 by Philippus Velijn. It’s currently housed at the Rijksmuseum. The image gives me an initial feeling of delicate strength, perhaps because of the juxtaposition of these fragile putti alongside the very regal Dutch lion. What leaps out at you when you look at it? Curator: What a gem! My first instinct is always to wonder what story it whispers, like a faded valentine from a forgotten admirer. Given its creation timeframe, nestled as it is in the tumultuous late 18th and early 19th centuries, with revolutions brewing and old orders crumbling, it sings of allegory to me. Look at those putti – classical cherubs representing something far grander, juxtaposed against the stoic Dutch Lion, a national symbol. And what's that one cherub offering up, almost like a peace treaty or a new covenant? Editor: It looks like some sort of document or scroll? Curator: Precisely! Perhaps symbolizing a contract, a legal agreement, or even the foundation of a nation's ideals? And notice how delicately rendered it all is, especially with the engraving medium. Velijn's choice to portray such heavy symbolism with this almost ethereal touch... it’s quite powerful, wouldn’t you say? Editor: I see what you mean. It really makes me think about the different ways national identity can be portrayed. Not just through heroic figures, but also these almost childlike symbols. Curator: It also underscores how fragile yet enduring such ideals and symbols can be. A tender dance of power, wouldn’t you say? Editor: That's a lovely way to put it! I’m going to remember "tender dance of power" the next time I see art featuring national symbols!