Exlibris of B.Solman 1976

This is Oleksandr Aksinin's "Exlibris of B. Solman," created in 1976, an etching imbued with symbols drawn from the depths of cultural memory. The wells, repeated three times, are not merely sources of water, but ancient symbols of life, purity, and the subconscious, like a Freudian slip of the tongue. Across cultures, the well is a potent image, appearing in myths and religious texts as a gateway to hidden knowledge. The artist seems to draw on this deep, collective understanding, layering the image with personal and universal meanings. The light bulbs either side, for example, may represent ideas – illuminating the scene as though from within. Consider how the well, as a motif, echoes through time, from ancient fertility rituals to modern psychological interpretations. It represents the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth, an ever-present force engaging viewers on a subconscious level. Like all symbols, the well continues its non-linear journey, resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings across contexts.