Sønderborg på øen Als 1820

Søren L. Lange created this vivid depiction of Sønderborg on the island of Als with pen and watercolour. Consider the sheep, emblems of pastoral peace, scattered across the foreground, and how they have appeared since ancient times in idyllic landscapes promising harmony and divine protection. These symbols invite us to reflect on the enduring human longing for tranquility. We can trace this motif back to classical antiquity, where sheep symbolized innocence and divine favor. Yet, even in these serene settings, there's a sense of unease, a premonition perhaps, of the transience of peace. The collective memory embedded in these images speaks to our subconscious, reminding us that idealised peace is always fragile. It's a cycle, a recurring theme in the theatre of human history, where yearning and threat intertwine.