Zeichnung zur Fibel_ Zitrone c. 1905

This is Hans Thoma's delicate drawing of a lemon, currently held at the Städel Museum. In this simple study, the lemon is depicted with leaves and stem, offering a glimpse into Thoma's meticulous observation of nature. But let's consider the lemon itself. The citrus fruit, originating in Asia, carries symbolic weight across cultures. Its vibrant color and sharp taste have historically represented purification, healing, and even love. Recall the Hesperides of Greek mythology and their golden apples, often depicted as citrus fruits, guarded in a distant garden. Similarly, in Christian iconography, citrus fruits have been used to allude to the fruits of paradise. Though the precise meaning shifts, there's a constant thread of symbolic power, of the exotic and desirable, which brings a sense of longing or desire. The presence of the lemon here, thus, might subtly evoke these deep-seated associations, engaging our collective memory and stirring a primeval fascination with the natural world. This simple image subtly highlights the cyclical nature of symbols, continually reborn in new contexts, each time layered with historical and cultural resonance.