Mythologie des Arcanes 

Victor Brauner painted this artwork, called 'Mythologie des Arcanes', with oil on canvas at an unknown date. The painting presents symbolic figures, including a horse, ridden by two birds, and an anthropomorphic figure with closed eyes. Here, we see how Brauner merges the archaic with the modern, a process akin to cultural memory where ancient symbols are reinterpreted through a contemporary lens. The horse, a motif stretching from the classical world to the present, often symbolizes power and vitality. Yet, this horse, with its zebra-like stripes and avian passengers, has been transformed. Note the two birds, reminiscent of ancient totemic representations. The presence of birds connects us to shamanistic beliefs, where birds often act as messengers between the earthly and spiritual realms. In the context of Brauner's surrealist leanings, these symbols likely tap into collective, subconscious fears, desires, and primal urges. This emotive interplay reminds us that images are not static. They're dynamic carriers of cultural memory, constantly in flux as they're re-envisioned across time.