Skitser til: Hvem har dog banket dig og kastet dig ud nøgen, som du er... 1860

Lorenz Frølich created this pen and ink drawing whose title translates to 'Sketches for: Who has beaten you and thrown you out naked, as you are...' Dominating the composition are circular vignettes depicting scenes of vulnerability and confrontation. Consider the motif of the ‘naked figure’—stripped of defenses, both literally and figuratively. This symbol echoes through art history, from the shame of Adam and Eve to countless depictions of martyrdom and suffering. Note also the recurring image of figures in conflict, their gestures mirroring a universal language of accusation and despair. The ‘naked figure,’ in particular, gains a profound psychological weight. It reflects our primal fears of exposure, judgment, and the loss of control, tapping into a collective memory of shared human experiences. This sketch, in its rawness, compels us to confront these timeless themes, revealing how symbols persist and evolve, echoing across cultures and eras in a continuous cycle of meaning.