Vaas met slangen 1770 - 1780

This is an engraving of a vase with snakes, created by an anonymous artist. What does it mean to entwine symbols of beauty with those of danger? The vase, traditionally a symbol of elegance and domesticity, is here subverted by the presence of snakes, creatures often associated with deceit and primal fear. We can consider the historical context of the artwork, perhaps reflecting societal anxieties or a fascination with the exotic, the unknown. The gendering of such symbols is also interesting to consider. Vases, linked to the domestic sphere, have often been coded as feminine. What does it mean to adorn it with snakes, which carry more masculine, phallic connotations? This engraving, in its quiet way, invites us to consider the tensions between aesthetics and the unsettling, between the familiar and the strange. It reminds us that beauty can be dangerous, and that danger can be alluring.