Ornament with Grotesque 1616

This ornamental engraving by Master CR teems with symbolic figures, dancing devils, dragons, and figures reminiscent of witches in the central oval. Note the goat-legged devils with horns, symbols of primal instinct. These figures evoke ancient satyrs and pagan deities, reflecting a cultural memory of pre-Christian beliefs. Consider the motif of the witch, often depicted fleeing or in chaotic revelry, such as in Goya's later depictions of nocturnal flights. This iconography taps into deeply rooted fears and fantasies. The central figures call to mind the classical image of Actaeon fleeing in terror, his body transforming, suggesting a profound anxiety about transformation and loss of control. We see these figures re-emerge in varied guises across centuries, from medieval folklore to modern horror. This interplay of the monstrous and the ornamental, the sacred and the profane, speaks to the cyclical nature of symbols. They resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings, reflecting our collective subconscious.