Paneel in omlijsting before 1666

Jean Lepautre created this panel in omlijsting engraving, brimming with symbols that echo across time. Note the serene bust at the panel's heart, flanked by playful putti. Below, two figures recline, framing a grotesque mask within a laurel wreath. This wreath, a classical symbol of victory and honor, finds its roots in ancient Greece and Rome, adorning emperors and athletes alike. Yet, its cyclical form also speaks to life's endless return, a concept mirrored in the mask – perhaps a theatrical emblem or a guardian figure, warding off ill fortune with its exaggerated features. The mask-like face, a motif that surfaces from antiquity to commedia dell'arte, reminds us that we see a psychological link to primal fears and the subconscious. Consider how these elements engage us, stirring emotions tied to triumph, protection, and the enigmatic dance between joy and sorrow. Such is the enduring power of symbols, continually reborn, their meanings shaped by the currents of culture and the depths of our shared psyche.