Le malingre cryptogame (The Sickly Cryptogam) 1860

Charles Meryon created this etching titled "The Sickly Cryptogam." In it, we see a peculiar, almost serpentine form rising from the ground, its upper portion coiled tightly, like a knot or a twisted brain. The motif of the knot has long haunted the human psyche, reappearing across cultures and eras. We find it in ancient Celtic art, symbolizing interconnectedness and eternity, and in the Gordian Knot of Greek legend, embodying intractable problems. But here, in Meryon's rendering, the knot evokes a sense of constriction, illness, and unease. It reflects a psychological state, a mind trapped in its own labyrinthine thoughts. The cryptogam itself, a primitive plant, rootless and often thriving in darkness, adds another layer of meaning. It becomes a symbol of the hidden, the subconscious, and perhaps, the parts of ourselves we find difficult to confront. The artist's feelings of isolation and alienation are palpable in this image. The cycle continues: the knot reappears, bearing with it echoes of past anxieties, reborn in the present.