Gezicht op de trap met sfinxen 1631 - 1691

Israel Silvestre created this print, "View of the Staircase with Sphinxes and the Courtyard of Fountains," during the 17th century. Dominating the foreground are sphinxes, mythical creatures that guard sacred spaces and pose riddles to those who seek to enter. They embody wisdom, power, and mystery. The sphinx, originating in ancient Egypt with the body of a lion and the head of a human, evolved in Greek mythology into a creature with a woman's head, a lion's body, and wings. The shift from male to female reflects changing cultural values and psychological projections. In the Renaissance, the sphinx resurfaced in garden design as symbols of enigmatic knowledge. Observe how the sphinx, a powerful symbol of protection and wisdom, engages our subconscious. It evokes a sense of awe and invites contemplation on the mysteries of existence. This cyclical resurgence underscores the enduring human fascination with archetypal images, whose meanings shift and evolve across time, yet retain their primal emotional power.