Masks from the Control Room (Masques du vestibule de contrôle) c. 1870

In this 19th-century albumen print by Louis-Émile Durandelle, we observe a collection of theatrical masks, each face frozen in the exaggerated expressions of Greek drama. These masks, with their wide eyes and open mouths, are not mere artifacts; they are vessels of primal emotions. Consider the mask adorned with horns, evoking the god Pan, a figure of untamed nature and instinct. This symbol echoes through time, reappearing in various guises from pagan rituals to medieval depictions of demons, each iteration carrying a residue of its original, wild energy. The open mouth, a symbol of catharsis, reminds us of the Dionysian rites. These masks, like the ancient dramas they represent, tap into our collective subconscious. The exaggerated expressions, the archetypal figures – they all resonate with the deep, often unsettling currents of human experience. It’s a reminder that these symbols are not static; they evolve, adapt, and resurface, carrying echoes of the past into the present.