Cerberus 1912

Christian Rohlfs gives us Cerberus, the monstrous multi-headed dog that guards the gates of the Underworld, in a woodcut print. Notice the three heads, a symbol deeply rooted in mythology and folklore. This motif is not unique to Cerberus; it echoes across cultures, representing the past, present, and future, or even different realms of existence. We see similar three-headed figures in various mythologies, each carrying its own symbolic weight. Consider the persistence of this image throughout history. Is it merely a depiction of a fearsome beast, or does it tap into our collective unconscious, embodying our primal fears and anxieties about death and the unknown? The repetition of this motif throughout history indicates a deep, perhaps subconscious, fascination with such themes. This woodcut invites us to contemplate the cyclical nature of symbols, reminding us that images are not static but constantly evolving, resurfacing, and taking on new meanings as they journey through time.