Entwürfe für Balustraden - Füllungen (Tiere in Rankenwerk) 

These are Moritz von Schwind’s sketches for balustrade fillings, rendered in ink, showcasing animals entwined within foliage. The recurrence of animals such as deer and birds amidst vegetation speaks to the enduring human fascination with the natural world. Consider the image of the rooster, a symbol that crows across cultures. In ancient Greece, the rooster was sacred to Apollo, embodying vigilance and the dawn. Yet, shift to a different context, and its crowing might signal pride or even arrogance. The animals are set among foliage that recalls classical friezes, in which the natural world is used to represent the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Such motifs aren’t static; they evolve, accumulating layers of meaning. This dance of symbols across time isn't linear but a cyclical return, each era reinterpreting and imbuing them with new psychological weight. They resonate deeply, tapping into a collective memory that stirs something primal within us.