Artwork
Two Putti...Striking Another Who Is Squeezing a Child
Two Putti...Striking Another Who Is Squeezing a Child is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Master of the Die. It dates from 1522 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The 1522 engraving titled *Two Putti Striking Another Who Is Squeezing a Child* presents a compact, black‑and‑white composition of three cherubic figures in a moment of agitation. Executed by the anonymous Italian printmaker known as the Master of the Die, the image captures a fleeting, chaotic interaction that contrasts with the usual serene depictions of putti.
Subject & Meaning
In the scene, one putto delivers a blow to a second figure, while a third clutches a small child, creating a tableau of playful violence. The juxtaposition of aggression and innocence suggests a narrative of mischief gone awry, challenging the conventional portrayal of putti as purely gentle, decorative motifs.
Technique & Style
The work is rendered in fine line engraving, a medium that allows for intricate detailing of musculature and drapery. Influences from Raphael’s graceful anatomy and the precise drafting of Marcantonio Raimondi are evident, while the artist’s habit of signing with a tiny die stamp provides a subtle identifier within the composition.
History & Provenance
Attributed to the Master of the Die, an engraver active between roughly 1525 and 1560, the piece reflects the artist’s early career shortly after his apprenticeship under Raimondi. Though the original print’s ownership trail is sparse, it has been catalogued in several European print collections, confirming its circulation among connoisseurs of Renaissance graphic art.
Context
The engraving emerges from a period when putti were frequently employed as allegorical or decorative elements in both painting and print. By depicting them in a moment of conflict, the artist engages with contemporary tastes for narrative complexity, aligning with the broader humanist interest in portraying a range of human emotions, even in miniature divine figures.
Artist & collection
Artist
Master of the Die (fl. 1525–1560) was an Italian engraver and printmaker. His year of birth and death are unknown. The identity of the Master of the Die is uncertain. He was given this name because he signed his prints…
