Allegory of Fertility (Recto) 1637 - 1643

Jacob Jordaens rendered this Allegory of Fertility with pen, brown ink, and watercolor wash. The dominant visual symbols are abundant: nude figures, putti, and Pan, the god of the wild, playing his pipes. These symbols, rooted in classical antiquity, speak to the life force, pleasure, and the cyclical nature of growth and decay. Pan, with his goat-like features, is an intriguing figure. His music, traditionally associated with pastoral settings, has reappeared in various guises throughout history. In some instances, it’s a call to the wild and untamed, yet in others, it is a symbol of earthly desires. Consider the Dionysian rituals, in which music and dance evoke states of ecstasy. It is perhaps this same primal, subconscious connection between music and the human spirit that Jordaens evokes here, engaging viewers on a deeply emotional level. As we ponder the symbolism, we can see the cyclical, non-linear progression of symbols as they evolve and resurface in altered contexts.