Ixion 1906

This is Oluf Hartmann's etching of Ixion, a tragic figure from Greek myth, made at the turn of the 20th century. The image shows Ixion bound to a flaming wheel, an eternal punishment from Zeus for his transgressions. The wheel, a potent symbol, appears across cultures. In Buddhism, the Dharma wheel represents the cycle of life and death, and in Celtic tradition, it symbolizes the sun and cosmic order. Yet, here, the wheel has become an instrument of torture. Consider how this symbol of cyclical movement and cosmic order transforms into a signifier of unending torment. Hartmann taps into the collective memory of punishment and hubris. The harrowing wheel evokes a primal fear of unending suffering. In this image, Ixion is forever trapped, a poignant reminder of humanity's capacity for both ambition and self-destruction, forever resurfacing across time and cultures.