De to heste; Møllehesten 1845

Adolph Kittendorff created this work on paper, titled 'De to heste; Møllehesten'. Here, we observe scenes dominated by natural motifs. On the left, a family of canids, perhaps wolves, with the pups playfully interacting near their den. On the right, a frog seeks refuge under a toadstool. Consider the age-old symbolism of the forest: a space of hidden dangers, but also of refuge and transformation. Like the forest, caves and toadstools function as liminal spaces. These evoke a psychoanalytic reading, touching on themes of shelter and primal fears. From ancient myths to contemporary tales, the forest and its creatures have represented the untamed aspects of the human psyche. The image resonates with a deep, subconscious understanding of nature's dual role as both a protector and a threat. In the continuous narrative of human culture, the forest and its dwellers re-emerge, reflecting our evolving relationship with the wild and our inner selves.