Udkast til Thorvaldsens relief, "Natten" 1870 - 1880

This sketch, for Thorvaldsen’s relief "Night", presents a winged figure cradling two infants, a profound emblem of night as both a guardian and a nourisher. The winged figure, reminiscent of classical depictions of deities, carries with it echoes of antiquity. The act of cradling, a universal gesture of care, connects us to primal maternal instincts. We see similar motifs in Egyptian art, where goddesses are depicted nursing pharaohs, ensuring their immortality. This resonates with our collective memory of protection and sustenance. The wings, symbols of freedom and transcendence, appear across cultures, from the protective wings of angels in Christian art to the winged deities of ancient Greece. Yet, the figure's serene expression also suggests a deeper, subconscious acceptance of the cycle of life and death. The cyclical nature of night—its constant return— mirrors the perpetual human experiences of sleep, dreams, and the subconscious, offering a space for reflection and renewal across time.