Angoisse cosmique 1952

Dolfi Trost's "Angoisse cosmique" presents a cosmic bloom, rendered in swirling brushstrokes against a sea of blue. Here, we encounter a vortex of life forms, seemingly fish or tadpoles, surrounding a central core. These figures are not static, but rather in constant motion, suggesting a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. The circular composition evokes the Ouroboros, an ancient symbol of a serpent eating its own tail, representing the eternal return and unity of beginnings and endings. Consider the image of the fish; a symbol that has appeared across cultures from early Christianity to ancient mythology, often embodying themes of fertility, transformation, and the depths of the subconscious. The anxiety, or 'angoisse', suggested by the title reflects a deeper, perhaps unconscious, recognition of the cyclical nature of existence. It speaks to humanity’s perpetual confrontation with mortality and the unknown. The fish morph and change, embodying the powerful undercurrents of our shared, collective psyche and the timeless dance of creation and destruction. This motif is an echo resonating through the corridors of time.