Titelblad: Libellus Novus Elementorum Latinorum Cum AEneis picturis usui Aurifabrorum inservientib c. 1645 - 1650

This is the title page, made by Jeremias Falck, for a book of Latin elements with images for goldsmiths. The elaborate, swirling frame around the text is not mere decoration; it embodies the very essence of the creative process. Notice the grotesque masks peering out from the top of the frame, a motif that stretches back to antiquity. These masks, often associated with the theatrical, also hint at hidden, primal forces. In ancient Roman art, masks were used to ward off evil spirits, embodying a potent mix of fear and protection. Consider how these faces, with their exaggerated expressions, might tap into our own subconscious fears and desires. This visual language, passed down through generations of artists, speaks to the enduring power of symbols to evoke profound emotional responses. The frame is not merely ornamental, but a vessel carrying cultural memory.