Venster met gordijnen 1832 - 1877

This print presents a window draped in luxurious curtains, evoking a Renaissance aesthetic. The fleur-de-lis motif, prominently displayed in the ornate valance, immediately connects us to French royalty and nobility. This symbol, embraced by the French monarchy since the 12th century, transcends mere heraldry. It speaks of divine right and sovereign power. However, its roots may delve deeper, echoing ancient symbols of fertility and the triple goddess, revealing how symbols evolve, shedding old skins for new meanings. We can trace similar floral emblems across epochs – from the Minoan frescoes to the tapestries of the Middle Ages – each iteration subtly altered, yet resonating with an ancestral echo. The curtains, framing the window like a theatrical proscenium, create a stage for viewing the world. This act of framing reminds us of the human impulse to impose order, to find beauty, and perhaps, to obscure realities we find discomforting, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. Consider how such symbols resurface, not in linear progression, but as cyclical echoes, reborn and reinterpreted in each age.