Chest 1935 - 1942

Carl Strehlau rendered this chest using watercolor and graphite; observe the many symbols adorning its façade. Notice the recurring wheel motif, echoing ancient solar symbols. The wheel, or sun-cross, appears across cultures, representing the cyclical nature of life and the cosmos, an early attempt to grasp our place in the universe. Here, the twin hearts connected by this wheel draw our attention. This symbol, bridging the corporeal and the cosmic, appears across time, from ancient fertility rites to medieval heraldry, each time shifting in significance. It evokes the interconnectedness of love and fate, reflecting deep-seated desires for unity and continuity. The chest, a repository of personal belongings, becomes a vessel not just for objects, but for emotions, memories, and the enduring power of symbols that bind us to our past. This potent imagery engages viewers on a subconscious level, reminding us of the cyclical, non-linear progression of symbols that resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings across historical contexts.