Vier festoenen 1665

Hubert Quellinus created this print called "Vier festoenen" – Four Festoons – sometime in the 17th century. Quellinus, born in Antwerp, worked during a period when the Dutch Republic was asserting its cultural identity and economic power, deeply influencing art. Here we see four decorative garlands. These designs are a window into the Baroque aesthetic that favored ornamentation. Each festoon has distinct elements. One features a ram's head, laden with symbolic meaning from prosperity to sacrifice. Another displays what seems to be a bird, perhaps a symbol for the soul. The presence of fruit and flora speaks to nature’s abundance. Quellinus, like many artists of his time, was caught between traditions and a changing world, which we see reflected in his art. These festoons, seemingly decorative, reveal a complex interplay of symbols and meanings that reflect the era's values and beliefs. What do these symbols evoke in you?