Cartouche met mascaron 1613 - 1657

Pierre Firens created this cartouche with mascaron engraving sometime between the late 16th and early 17th centuries, a period defined by the religious wars between Catholics and Protestants. The cartouche is an ornamental frame, frequently used to carry an inscription or emblem. What does it mean to frame emptiness with images of power? The grotesque mask at the base, known as a mascaron, along with the shell at the top of the frame, are both intended to ward off evil. Emptiness, here, is a space of potential, a space to be protected from outside forces. As such, Firens gives visual form to something that is intangible yet palpable. The tension created by these elements evokes the sense of unease and uncertainty pervasive during the Counter-Reformation. The print resonates beyond its historical context, reminding us of our own anxieties. How do we protect ourselves from the evils we see in the world today?