Still life with pillow with deer décor and a bouquet 1911

August Macke captured this still life with pillow and bouquet using vivid colors and simplified forms. Notice the pillow with the deer motif. Deer, long symbols of the wild, the hunt, and renewal, have appeared in art from prehistoric cave paintings to medieval tapestries. The deer are powerful emblems that resonate through time. Consider the Greek goddess Artemis, often associated with the deer, embodying the spirit of the hunt and the wilderness. The deer's image is a powerful force, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. Its grace and vulnerability evoke emotional states. In this modern context, Macke’s inclusion of such an ancient symbol reflects a non-linear progression, how motifs resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings across different historical contexts. It reminds us that the past is always present.