The Crystal House 1938

Jacques Hérold's "The Crystal House" presents us with an enigmatic structure, shimmering as if formed from crystallized dreams. The most striking symbol is the house itself, a motif that has echoed through art history as a representation of the self, the psyche, or the very core of one's being. Consider the recurring image of the house in dreams, as interpreted by psychoanalysts such as Freud and Jung. The house, with its rooms, corridors, and hidden spaces, mirrors the conscious and unconscious aspects of the human mind. Similarly, Hérold's crystal house appears as a fragmented, multi-faceted representation of the self, exposed and vulnerable yet also resilient. The presence of organic, almost skeletal forms surrounding the house suggests a cycle of decay and rebirth, reminiscent of alchemical processes. This brings to mind the ancient symbol of the ouroboros, the snake eating its own tail, which signifies eternal return and transformation. Hérold's symbols engage our deepest anxieties and hopes, evoking a powerful emotional response rooted in our collective cultural memory. In the non-linear, cyclical progression of symbols, we find how these forms resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.