Twee friezen c. 1664

This etching, created by Jean Lepautre, presents friezes teeming with figures that evoke classical antiquity. Note the recurring motif of hybrid creatures—part human, part fish—emerging from the waters. These figures, known as tritons and nereids, were traditionally associated with the sea, embodying its power and mystery. Yet, these figures aren't confined to ancient Greece or Rome. We see similar figures in Renaissance fountains and Baroque garden sculptures, adapted and reimagined across time. Consider how the mermaid, a descendant of these aquatic deities, continues to capture our imagination. From Hans Christian Andersen's melancholic tale to modern film, she symbolizes the allure and peril of the unknown, reflecting our enduring fascination with the boundary between the human and the natural world. This artwork then is not an isolated creation, but a node in a complex web of cultural memory, continuously reshaped by our collective subconscious.