Binnenplein van het huis van Jacques Jordaens 1868

Jean Théodore Joseph Linnig made this drawing of the courtyard of Jacques Jordaens' house. The building's façade is adorned with classical motifs and symmetrically arranged windows, reflecting a desire for order and harmony, deeply rooted in Renaissance ideals. Above the entrance, a cartouche features a carved mask. These masks, often grotesque or expressive, can be traced back to ancient theatrical traditions, representing archetypal characters. Think of the Greek theatre, where masks amplified emotions. Here, it may act as an apotropaic symbol, warding off negative influences and safeguarding the inhabitants. The recurring presence of such motifs across centuries is more than mere coincidence; it is the re-emergence of deeply embedded psychological patterns and collective memories. We find echoes of this in the modern theatre and in our dreams, which are filled with similar symbolic fragments, revealing our shared human experience.