Doos van koning Lodewijk IX van Frankrijk, gezien vanaf de rechterkant c. 1876 - 1883

Here is an image of the box of King Louis IX of France, captured by Léon Vidal. Notice the carefully arranged symbols which are not merely decorations but containers of inherited meaning. Consider the recurring motif of the star, a symbol that shines across cultures and epochs, from ancient Mesopotamian deities to the star of Bethlehem. Its form shifts, yet the core idea of celestial guidance remains, embedded in our collective psyche. The birds here too, evoke freedom and divinity, calling to mind images of doves representing the Holy Spirit, which in earlier times took the form of other birds. These symbols, passed down and reshaped, touch something primal within us. Like a dream, they tap into our deepest fears and hopes, a visual language that speaks to the soul. They are not static but constantly evolving, their meanings layered and intertwined across time. It is this continuous cycle of rebirth and reinterpretation that gives art its enduring power.