The Carbuncle, plate two from Zehn Blätter zu Hebels Alemannischen Gedichten 1820

Sophie Reinhard etched "The Carbuncle" to illustrate a poem about camaraderie. Within, men gamble under a symbolic wheel of fortune, a motif echoing ancient Roman depictions of Fortuna, the goddess of fate. The wheel—seen across cultures from medieval tapestries to tarot cards—represents life's unpredictable turns. Here, it hangs askew, hinting at the precariousness of their revelry. This symbol taps into our collective anxieties about control and destiny. Observe the cat, a creature often associated with duplicity. Consider how such recurring symbols serve as potent carriers of cultural memory. The image engages with deep, subconscious fears about chance and moral corruption. Its symbols have passed down through history, constantly evolving. Ultimately, Reinhard's etching invites us to contemplate how symbols persist, resurface, and adapt, mirroring the cyclical nature of human experience.