Fries met een vaas tussen twee putti met een helm 1521 - 1525

This is a tiny, but fascinating, engraving called Fries met een vaas tussen twee putti met een helm, made by Barthel Beham sometime in the first half of the 16th century. Notice the symmetrical arrangement, how a vase is centered between two putti. Each putto strikes a different pose, which creates a dynamic tension across the frieze. The artist used very fine lines to create volume and texture. The image is rich in detail, from the acanthus leaves surrounding the vase to the scales on the mythical creatures. The print destabilizes conventional associations. Putti are traditional symbols of peace and prosperity, but are combined with martial imagery. The artist challenges our expectations of what symbols mean when juxtaposed. The frieze is not just decorative; it functions as a site of complex cultural interplay.