Alkoof afgesloten door twee Ionische zuilen c. 1650

Jean Lepautre created this etching of an alcove framed by Ionic columns. The columns speak to a classical embrace of order and harmony, a structure that suggests not just physical support but also a symbolic grounding in the traditions of antiquity. Note the garlanded frieze above, crowned with a mascaron: a grotesque face that wards off evil. This motif has roots stretching back to ancient Greece, where similar masks were used in theatrical performances to amplify emotions and project them to the audience. Here, in this intimate domestic space, the mascaron serves as a protective emblem, a guardian against unseen forces. Consider how this architectural detail invites us to reflect on the cyclical nature of symbols, resurfacing across centuries, adapting to new contexts while retaining echoes of their primal origins. The past is never truly gone, it lives within us, shaping our perceptions and coloring our emotions.