Cartouche met een luitspelende putto 1573 - 1610

This is an engraving of a cartouche with a putto playing a lute, made by Christoph Jamnitzer in Germany around the turn of the 17th century. Here, we can see how the image creates meaning through visual codes and cultural references. Cartouches like this one were used to frame coats of arms and other heraldic devices, and the putto playing the lute is a symbol of peace and harmony. The cartouche itself is elaborately decorated with floral and vegetal motifs, reflecting the influence of classical antiquity during the northern Renaissance. Produced at a time of great social and religious upheaval in Europe, Jamnitzer’s imagery evokes the dream of an ordered world based on humanist learning. As historians, we can consult pattern books and other sources to learn more about the cultural context of this image, and to understand its place in the social and institutional history of early modern Europe. In short, it demonstrates that the meaning of art is contingent on its historical context.