De Zot c. 1525 - 1550

Peter Flötner crafted this lead plaquette, "De Zot," sometime in the 16th century. At its heart dances a fool, a figure crowned with a jester's cap, embodying folly and chaos. This motif echoes through time, a relative of the medieval "ship of fools" and the ancient Roman Saturnalia, where societal norms were gleefully inverted. The fool's presence, a manifestation of suppressed desires, allows a temporary release from societal constraints. Observe how this character reappears across epochs, not merely as a comic figure but as a safety valve, channeling collective anxieties and unspoken truths. The image taps into our subconscious recognition of the need for release, a cyclical return to chaos before order can be reaffirmed. The fool, therefore, isn’t just a figure of ridicule but a mirror reflecting our own suppressed impulses, a potent symbol engaging us on a primal level.