Landscape with Full Moon 

Johann Georg Trautmann captured this landscape on canvas, illuminated by a full moon. The moon, a universal symbol, presides over the scene, casting its glow upon the earth. This celestial body has long held sway over the human imagination. Consider the lunar deity Selene in Greek mythology or the moon goddess Luna in Roman lore – figures embodying femininity, intuition, and the cycles of nature. We see echoes of this in the East, where the moon is often associated with tranquility and reflection. Yet, the moon’s symbolism is not limited to serenity. Throughout history, the full moon has been linked with madness, the term "lunatic" itself derived from "luna." This duality reveals a deep-seated tension in our collective psyche. The image evokes profound, often subconscious, emotional responses—a pull towards introspection and the recognition of life's transient nature. The moon, in its cyclical journey, represents not an end but a continuum. Its light, enduring across time, connects us to the ancients, reminding us that symbols, like stars, are reborn in the human spirit.