Kandelaar op een voet, gedecoreerd met mascarons en daarboven vissen 1552

This candelabra stand, made by an anonymous artist, is adorned with many potent symbols. Notice the grotesque masks, known as mascarons, at the base. These faces, often distorted or exaggerated, echo ancient theatrical masks, embodying primal energies and subconscious fears. Above them, two male figures, back-to-back, remind us of the classical Atlas figure, bearing a heavy burden. The mascaron surfaces in Roman art and Renaissance fountains, evolving into architectural ornamentation. Carl Jung might argue these archetypal faces tap into our collective unconscious, embodying repressed aspects of the psyche. Much like the snake, often seen as a symbol of rebirth and transformation, the mascaron transcends cultures, appearing in pagan rituals, and resurfacing in contemporary art. These symbols create a non-linear, cyclical progression. As they reappear, they evolve and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.