Great Fear of the Earth III 1982

Editor: This is Günter Brus's "Great Fear of the Earth III," an etching. It evokes a primal anxiety, almost like a nightmare. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The horse, traditionally a symbol of power and virility, is rendered here as something tormented, almost monstrous. Notice how its darkness contrasts with the delicate flower, suggesting a clash between instinct and fragility. Does the flower remind you of Ophelia, perhaps? Editor: I see that. The flower does introduce a certain feminine vulnerability to this composition. Curator: Indeed. Brus seems to be exploring the psychological weight of inherited symbols, twisting them to express raw, personal terror. What do you make of the tiny figures scattered across the scene? Editor: They look vulnerable, like bystanders in a catastrophe. It feels like a fragmented dreamscape. Curator: Perhaps. The symbols speak to both personal and collective fears. Editor: I see what you mean. It's more than just a nightmare; it's a cultural reckoning.