Geschoten auerhoen 1855

This lithograph presents us with a 'Geschoten Auerhoen,' a wood grouse brought down by a shot. Its outstretched form, suspended in a perpetual fall, invites contemplation on mortality. The motif of the fallen bird extends back through antiquity; the sacrificed dove of Venus, the symbolic birds in funerary art, all resonate with themes of loss and transition. Even in its stillness, this grouse echoes those earlier symbols. Consider the 'Uccello,' the bird, a recurring image in art across the ages. But here, the uccello is no longer in flight. Its limp posture speaks to a primal understanding of the end, a reminder of our own impermanence. This image, like those before, taps into our collective consciousness, stirring emotions tied to the cycle of life. It echoes through time, resurfacing in new forms to remind us of the eternal dance between existence and cessation.