Plate 7: a cartouche with the mask of an ogre at top center, scrollwork to either side, from 'Twelve cartouches' (Recueil de douze cartouches) 1640 - 1645

François Collignon etched this cartouche around 1650, featuring an ogre mask amidst swirling scrollwork. In the 17th century, such grotesque masks, derived from ancient Roman art, were employed to ward off evil, embodying a primal fear through exaggerated features. Observe how this motif, reminiscent of the monstrous visages guarding ancient temples, reappears throughout history. Consider the Gorgon Medusa, whose image adorned shields to petrify enemies. This archetype reflects humanity's enduring fascination with the grotesque as both repellent and protective. This cartouche, with its fearsome mask, touches something deep within us. It’s a visual echo, reverberating through centuries, proof that the symbols of our fears and defenses are eternally reborn.