Fountain of Art 1907

Aladar Korosfoi-Kriesch’s "Fountain of Art" presents us with a compelling array of symbols. Nude female figures stand encircled by serpents atop the fountain, while other figures reach for the cascading water. The serpent, an ancient symbol, is often associated with healing, rebirth, and knowledge. Here, it entwines the figures, suggesting a transformative energy, much like its earlier role in the story of the Garden of Eden. Meanwhile, the figures, with arms raised, resemble priestesses, evoking primordial rituals. The fountain, a source of life-giving water, recalls ancient Greek and Roman fountains. This element of purification has continually resurfaced in various forms throughout history, from baptismal fonts to modern-day water rituals, each time adapting to the spiritual and cultural needs of the era. There’s a primal energy, something deeply ingrained in our collective psyche. We yearn for this connection to the sacred, this rejuvenation—an echo of our earliest ancestors, passed down through generations, subtly shaping our desires. The symbols are not static but living entities, transforming as they course through time.