Vaas met dolfijnen 1729 - 1737

This print, made by Gabriel Huquier, features a vase adorned with dolphins. These aren't just decorative flourishes; they are potent symbols. In antiquity, the dolphin was linked to Aphrodite, born from the sea, and to salvation, guiding souls to the afterlife. Observe how the dolphins curve around the vase, echoing forms found in ancient Roman fountains and mosaics. The dolphin motif, however, doesn’t end there. Think of the medieval bestiaries where dolphins appear, their image reshaped, sometimes monstrous, sometimes benevolent, mirroring humanity's changing relationship with the natural world. These transformations reveal a deep, often subconscious, yearning for connection with nature, a desire to reconcile the wild and the civilized. The vase, bearing these symbols, becomes more than a vessel. It is a carrier of cultural memory, evoking a complex web of associations that continue to resonate within us. Like a dream, it holds layers of meaning, shaped by history and perpetually open to reinterpretation.