Avril, from the Almanach iconologique 1760 - 1770

Jean François Rousseau created this engraving titled ‘Avril’ for an iconological almanac. Here, the winged figure, a symbol for the month of April, holds forth a wreath containing the zodiacal sign of Taurus, the bull. The bull—an ancient symbol of virility and strength—has traversed millennia, evolving through various cultural prisms. We see the bull in the Minoan frescoes of Knossos, leaping in a dance of ritualistic power, or consider its imposing presence in ancient Mesopotamian art. The bull evokes both fertility and raw, untamed power, reflecting humanity's enduring dialogue with the natural world. The unconscious resonance of such symbols is palpable. These images serve as vehicles, channeling emotional and psychological forces from one era to the next. It's a non-linear, cyclical progression, constantly resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings in different historical contexts.