Untitled 

Bernhard Hasler created this untitled piece as an etching, teeming with symbolic motifs. At its heart, the image evokes theatricality, framed by ornate decorations and figures that recall classical allegories. These surrounding figures—cherubs, muses, and decorative flourishes—create a sense of depth and connection to the Renaissance. The central figures, seemingly caught in a dramatic tableau, remind us of similar compositions found in ancient Roman frescos. The theatrical framework echoes a stage, highlighting how humans perceive and perform reality through symbolic constructs. Consider the cherubs. In antiquity, they were symbols of love and desire and later transformed into Christian symbols of divine love. Here, they evoke the idea of love, but in a more secular, humanistic sense. The image reminds us that these symbols are not static, but are constantly shifting, and that the power of images lies in their ability to evoke collective memories, tapping into our deepest fears and desires. Like an actor who dons different masks, symbols transcend time, resurfacing and evolving across history.