Medici vaas c. 1650

Georges Tournier created this print of the Medici vase. Look closely at the figures and the recurring masks. These are not mere decorations; they are potent symbols, echoing through time. Notice the procession of figures, perhaps a sacred ritual or a hero’s journey, reminiscent of ancient friezes. The faces emerging from the vase’s lower half are particularly intriguing. Grotesque masks like these can be traced back to the protective apotropaic symbols of ancient Greece and Rome. They were believed to ward off evil, their grimaces intended to frighten away malevolent spirits. Over centuries, the mask motif has resurfaced in various guises—from the gargoyles of Gothic cathedrals to the theatrical masks of the Renaissance. Each time, it carries echoes of its original intent: a psychological bulwark against unseen forces, a visual manifestation of our deepest fears and hopes. This is more than mere ornamentation; it's a cultural memory, a primal impulse encoded in form.