Plate 3: Pecos Book of Visitations: From Portfolio "Spanish Colonial Designs of New Mexico" 1935 - 1942

This page from the "Pecos Book of Visitations," created in 1716, presents a fascinating display of symbols deeply rooted in cultural and religious history. The most striking motif is the grapevine, laden with grapes. In Christian iconography, grapes are potent symbols of the Eucharist, representing Christ's blood and the promise of salvation. We see echoes of this in earlier Dionysian cults, where grapes symbolized fertility, ecstasy, and rebirth. This connection is no accident; the Church often reinterpreted pagan symbols, infusing them with new Christian meanings. Here, the subconscious plays a role as the image of the grapevine is deeply entwined with humanity's primal experiences, eliciting a profound emotional response as it merges sacred and secular ideas. The grapevine’s recurring presence throughout history shows how symbols persist, evolve, and resonate with both conscious and subconscious realms.