En fløj af H.C. Aggersborgs villa i Classens Have 1898

Joakim Skovgaard rendered this section of H.C. Aggersborg’s villa in Classens Have using pen and ink. The balcony is adorned with grotesque masks, architectural gargoyles whose purpose is both ornamental and apotropaic. These faces, with their exaggerated features, are descendants of ancient traditions, echoing the grotesque masks of antiquity meant to ward off evil. We find them in the theaters of ancient Greece and Rome, where masks amplified emotions and projected them to the audience. Through the centuries, these motifs have reappeared in various forms, from the medieval gargoyles of Gothic cathedrals, to the Renaissance fountains. They speak to our enduring fascination with the dual nature of the human psyche: our capacity for both beauty and monstrosity. The enduring appeal of these masks lies in their ability to tap into our primal fears and desires, engaging viewers on a subconscious level. The masks remind us that these symbols are not static artifacts, but rather living entities that evolve, adapt, and continue to resonate with us.