Poliepkwalletje en een zandvlokkreeft 1778

Robbert Muys rendered this image of a jellyfish and a sand-flea crustacean with pen and ink in the late 18th or early 19th century. Note the jellyfish, its bell-like form almost mimics an ethereal halo. This motif of the halo is one we see echoing across centuries, doesn't it? From religious iconography, where it signifies divine grace, to the jellyfish, here signifying the wonders of natural life. One might consider this as an archetype of protection, a concept deeply rooted in our collective unconscious. In many cultures, the circle symbolizes wholeness, divinity, and the cyclical nature of life. The halo, as a visual representation of this circle, has traversed time and cultures, adapting yet retaining its core essence. The circular form reappears again in the shape of the jellyfish’s bell and the crustacean's segmented body. While these are mere coincidences of natural forms, our minds cannot help but make associations between the images. This is how symbols transcend their original contexts and are reborn, imbued with new emotional resonances.