Mural Decorations, from "Illustrated London News" 1876

Pierre Grenier created this print, "Mural Decorations," for the "Illustrated London News," capturing a domestic scene. The most striking symbols here are the simple, childlike drawings adorning the wall, a primal form of expression reminiscent of ancient cave paintings. These stick figures and rudimentary forms, made with an immediacy, echo the desire to leave a mark, to assert presence. Think of the Lascaux cave paintings, where early humans depicted animals and hunts. Here, the child's art serves a similar function: staking a claim on the domestic space, expressing a narrative understood within the family’s context. The woman peering from behind the door introduces another layer—surveillance, secrecy, and perhaps humor. It is a timeless motif found in Renaissance paintings and theatrical comedies alike. Her gaze, like that of an all-seeing deity, embodies a psychological tension between freedom and control. These motifs are not linear, but cyclical, resurfacing and evolving to reflect our deepest fears and desires.