Processie met putti en geketende goden 1608 - 1650

This etching, "Procession with Putti and Chained Gods," was made by Pierre Brebiette in the first half of the 17th century. It presents a complex allegorical scene, typical of the period, in which classical mythology is mobilized to create a commentary on power, desire, and possibly, the role of the monarchy. The image depicts cupids or putti in a triumphal procession, leading chained gods. This would have been produced in France during the consolidation of absolute monarchy under Louis XIII and, later, Louis XIV. The imagery draws heavily on classical antiquity, a common practice in art intended to legitimize power through historical association. The procession, a public display, acts as a metaphor for the subjugation of even divine forces under earthly rule. To fully understand this work, historians consult emblem books and festival books from the period, alongside philosophical and political texts. The meaning of art is always dependent on these broader social and institutional contexts.