As the Old Sang, So the young Pipe 1644

Jacob Jordaens painted this large canvas, titled 'As the Old Sang, So the Young Pipe', a proverb about familial upbringing, sometime in the 17th century. Observe how the owl perched high on the cupboard casts a shadow on the scene, an ancient symbol that has journeyed through time, often associated with wisdom, but also with darkness and ignorance. Consider the classical goddess Athena, strongly linked to the owl, representing knowledge and strategic intellect. Yet, in folklore, the owl is an omen of death, a nocturnal creature lurking in the shadows. This duality is not contradictory but complementary; the owl embodies the complex interplay between knowledge and the unknown, light and shadow. Even today, in our modern psyche, the owl retains this ancient power. The image evokes a sense of mystery, reminding us that wisdom is often found in the darkest corners of our experience. The proverb is visualized here as a continuous cycle of knowledge, passed down, generation to generation, its meaning shaped and reshaped by time, yet forever resonating within our collective consciousness.