Letter D 1630

Peter Aubry etched "Letter D," an ornamental initial, in the early 17th century, a time of both religious war and intellectual flourishing. Note the eagle head, a symbol of power, looking back as if guarding the past, combined with grotesque masks that populate the letter's interior. Similar masks can be traced back to ancient Roman art, where they served as apotropaic devices to ward off evil spirits. The masks in Aubry’s "D," however, are not merely decorative; they evoke a sense of unease, reflecting the era's anxieties. Consider how these motifs have persisted through time. Eagle heads reappear in heraldry and national emblems, while masks find new life in theater and carnival. These evolutions reveal not only the continuity of cultural symbols but also their remarkable ability to adapt and express the collective fears and aspirations of different epochs. The eagle and masks serve as potent reminders of the past's lingering influence on the present, demonstrating how symbols never truly die; they merely transform, echoing through the corridors of time.