Allegorie van de dag 1788

"Allegorie van de dag" (Allegory of the Day) is a 1788 etching by Dutch artist Christian Bernhard Rode (1725-1797). The piece is a circular composition featuring four cherubs amidst a flurry of clouds. One cherub, perched atop a cloud, aims an arrow, symbolizing the passage of time. Another holds a torch, perhaps representing the light of day. This detailed and delicate etching, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, exemplifies Rode's mastery of the medium. The subject matter and style, drawing on classic Roman and Greek mythology, suggest a playful and whimsical approach to allegorical imagery.