Æslet udstøder Y-A 1859

Carl Peter Theodor Rothweiler created this small drawing, "Æslet udstøder Y-A," the donkey expels Y-A. Rothweiler was a troubled figure, known to be institutionalized. Here, we see a donkey expelling a mysterious "Y-A." The donkey, often a symbol of stubbornness or foolishness, is framed by delicate, almost decorative swirls of foliage. What is the donkey rejecting? Is it an idea, a person, or perhaps an aspect of the artist himself? Rothweiler lived during a time of great social and intellectual change, when many artists were grappling with questions of identity, belief, and the nature of progress. "Æslet udstøder Y-A" might be interpreted as a statement on these themes, but the personal dimension of Rothweiler's struggles cannot be overlooked. The drawing remains ambiguous. It is in this ambiguity that the power of the work resides, inviting us to confront our own assumptions and to consider the complexities of the human experience.