Putto with a banner 1774

Violante Vanni made this print, Putto with a Banner. A putto, often seen in art of this period, symbolizes innocence and divine love. Vanni, an eighteenth-century Italian artist, worked in a society where women had limited access to artistic training and recognition. As a woman printmaker, Vanni was already pushing against the norms of her time. The print exemplifies the period's focus on classical themes, filtered through a Christian lens, with the putto, rendered in delicate lines, holding a banner, possibly alluding to triumph or virtue. But let’s think about it this way, the act of Vanni, a woman, etching this image allows us to reimagine classical and religious narratives through a female gaze, infusing them with different perspectives. The emotional depth of the piece comes from its gentle portrayal of the putto, inviting viewers to reflect on themes of faith, aspiration, and human potential. In creating this tender image, Vanni invites us to consider who gets to participate in the visual narrative of virtue and triumph.