Titelblad: Livre de Vases 1657

Françoise Bouzonnet created this print, "Livre de Vases," in the 17th century, showcasing a design book of vases. The vases are adorned with motifs deeply rooted in classical antiquity. The grotesque masks, for example, aren’t merely decorative; they echo the protective, often fearsome, visages found on ancient temples and theatrical masks. The Greeks believed that such imagery could ward off evil. Consider how these motifs resurface centuries later, here, in Bouzonnet's designs. We see the persistence of the antique, not as a direct copy, but re-imagined through a contemporary lens. The inclusion of these ancestral symbols speaks to a collective memory, a shared visual language that transcends time. Just as in ancient rituals, these faces have the uncanny power to evoke profound emotions, engaging viewers in a silent dialogue that bridges the past and present. It is through their cyclical re-emergence that we perceive the timeless pulse of human expression.