Landscape near Hammamet 1914

August Macke painted this watercolor, titled 'Landscape near Hammamet,' capturing the essence of a North African vista. The scene is dominated by vibrant colors and abstracted forms. Note the donkey, a motif laden with historical weight. In Christian iconography, the donkey is associated with humility and peace, bearing Christ into Jerusalem. Yet, it also carries the burden of labor. Think of Apuleius’s 'The Golden Ass' from antiquity. The reappearance of this symbol across centuries is no mere coincidence. It speaks to our collective memory, a shared understanding of burdens and journeys. Even in Macke's modern interpretation, the donkey resonates with echoes of the past, engaging us on a primal level. The symbol of the donkey and the landscape itself remind us of the cyclical nature of history, constantly resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings.