Muurpaneel met ovale lijst rustend op masker 1647

This is an engraving by Michel Dorigny, a master of ornament, dating from the 17th century. The composition overflows with symbols. Masks, cherubs, and vegetative ornamentation surround a landscape in an oval frame. Look at the masks, which function almost as supporting caryatids. The mask—a symbol of hidden identity—takes us back to the ancient Greek theater, where performers donned masks to amplify their roles, channeling archetypes of human experience. The mask's presence here introduces a theatrical element, a sense of drama and performance. We also see these masks today in similar contexts, for example, in theater advertisements. It's fascinating to consider the ways in which these masks persist, reinvented but still potent, revealing how deeply our cultural subconscious is imprinted with symbols of transformation. This visual language evokes a deep, subconscious connection to ancestral memories.