Allgemeiner Wunsch (Friede) 1765 - 1833

Gerhard Ludvig Lahde created this line drawing, "Allgemeiner Wunsch (Friede)," or "General Wish (Peace)," with pen and ink. The composition balances light and dark, reality and the surreal, reflecting the complexity of its themes. Lahde uses stark contrasts to create visual interest and suggest a deeper symbolic structure. Notice the line of figures beneath a rainbow. These characters symbolize different sectors of society, united by a shared desire for peace, each rendered with careful attention to detail. A tree on the left bursts into light, symbolizing enlightenment and hope, and mirroring the cloud on the right. The artist uses this semiotic system to explore the interplay between national identity and universal longing. The linear quality emphasizes the orderly arrangement and heightens the symbolic impact, drawing us into a contemplation of how societal unity and harmony are represented through art. Lahde prompts us to consider how these elements come together to challenge fixed meanings and engage with new ways of thinking about representation.