Der Mühlberg bei Frankfurt am Main 

Christian Xeller rendered this drawing of Frankfurt with graphite, capturing a tranquil moment by the river. The river, the lifeblood of civilization, flows as a powerful symbol that has meandered through art history since antiquity. Here, it serves as both a literal depiction of the Main and a symbolic representation of time’s relentless current. Like the ancient Greeks, who saw rivers as gods with the power to create and destroy, Xeller subtly imbues this waterway with a similar energy. It divides and connects, reflecting our own internal struggles with change and continuity. Consider how water appears in Leonardo’s Deluge drawings, or Turner’s seascapes. The symbol has appeared and reappeared, each time echoing the emotional states of the societies they reflect. The image is imprinted on our cultural memory, and it continues to evolve, much like the river itself.