Two cherubs dancing with a small boy, not by Hollar

Art Historical Context

In the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this enchanting engraving titled *Two Cherubs Dancing with a Small, not by Hollar* captures moment of pure delight from the mid-17th century (ca. 1640–52). Attributed to Wenceslauslar, the Bohemian master engraver, after designs by Flemish artist Pieter van Avont, it exemplifies the Baroque era's love for playful, mythological vignettes. Cherubs— rosy-cheeked putti symbolizing innocence and joy—frolic with a small boy amid blooming roses, evoking themes of childhood revelry and pastoral harmony. Engraving, the medium here, was a revolutionary printmaking technique perfected in Hollar's time, allowing intricate details to be reproduced affordably for collectors across Europe. Hollar, renowned for his meticulous line work and over 2,500 prints, often collaborated with painters like van Avont, translating their vibrant oil sketches into precise intaglio images on a modest sheet (5 5/16 × 7 13/16 in.). This piece reflects the era's cultural fascination with lighthearted genre scenes amid the turmoil of the Thirty Years' War, offering viewers a whimsical escape. Part of The Elisha Whittelsey Collection (acquired 1951), it invites us to ponder the timeless charm of youth and nature, where roses nod to fleeting beauty in 17th-century art. A gem for any visitor drawn to the delicate poetry of printmaking!

About the Artist

Wenceslaus Hollar|Pieter van Avont · 1607–1677

Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677) was a prolific Bohemian etcher who became one of the most accomplished printmakers of the seventeenth century. Born in Prague, he trained under Matthäus Merian in Frankfurt before entering the service of Thomas Howard, Earl of Arundel, in 1636. Hollar spent most of his career in England, where he produced approximately 2,740 etchings documenting an extraordinary range...