Kannen van steengoed, plaat XIV 1827 - 1829

Charles Onghena created this lithograph, showcasing an assortment of stoneware jugs. Note the recurrence of floral and geometric motifs across these vessels; symbols deeply embedded in our collective memory. Consider jug number XIII, adorned with a scattering of dots. In ancient cultures, dots often symbolized stars, representing the cosmos and the divine. Recall the celestial maps painted on cave walls from millennia ago, where dots marked constellations. Now, see how these dots reappear, transmuted onto a humble jug. This transformation embodies the enduring power of symbols. The cosmos, once an object of religious awe, becomes a decorative pattern, yet still subconsciously evokes a connection to something larger than ourselves. The sacred becomes secular, but the underlying emotional resonance remains. This cyclical progression reminds us that symbols never truly disappear; they merely evolve, taking on new forms while carrying echoes of the past.