Woman Fleeing from a Man Holding a Lance in the Forest 1796 - 1800

Here we see a print called *Woman Fleeing from a Man Holding a Lance in the Forest*, made by Carl Wilhelm Kolbe. The most striking visual element here is the dominance of the natural world. A large tree looms, its leaves meticulously rendered with an almost scientific precision. Kolbe uses etching to create a complex pattern of light and shadow. The forest is not merely a backdrop but the main focus of the composition. This emphasis destabilizes the traditional hierarchy of figures against landscape. The human drama is secondary; the woman and the man with the lance are almost afterthoughts, engulfed by their surroundings. The density of the forest and the intricate linework suggests an engagement with the sublime. The work evokes a feeling of awe and perhaps terror in the face of nature’s overwhelming power. The scene might be a reflection on humanity’s place within a nature that remains indifferent to human affairs.