Ionisch cymatium c. 1890 - 1922

This drawing by Johanna van de Kamer depicts the Ionic cymatium, an architectural molding element recognizable by its distinctive curves. The ovolo shape, resembling an egg, is interspersed with stylized darts or arrowheads. These motifs are not merely decorative; they carry echoes of ancient rituals and symbolic meanings. Consider how the egg, a symbol of potential and rebirth, alternates with the arrow, a symbol of direction, force and even aggression. This juxtaposition speaks to a deeper tension, a play between creation and destruction, potential and actuality, that resonates across cultures and epochs. We see similar patterns, in Egyptian art, where the egg shape symbolizes the life-giving sun, and in the recurring motifs of Greek pottery, revealing a timeless psychological dance. Like an ancient memory, this imagery surfaces again and again, each time slightly altered, reflecting our own subconscious grappling with the fundamental forces that shape our world.