The Haunted House 1858

This etching, "The Haunted House," was created by Simeon Solomon in 1859. The somber scene features a woman hesitantly reaching for a door, carrying what appears to be a shrouded child. Notice the repetition of the motif of veiled or covered figures throughout history, such as veiled statues in antiquity, often representing mourning or hidden truths. We can trace this gesture in funerary art, signifying grief, respect, and the mysteries of death. Here, the veiled child invites us to question what is concealed—what burdens or secrets is this woman carrying? The slight opening of the door creates tension between what is seen and unseen, embodying the Freudian concept of the uncanny—a feeling of unease when familiar things become disturbingly strange. The haunted house, the veiled figure—these symbols invite our collective memories of the past. Solomon's work connects us to an understanding that the past is always with us, resurfacing in unexpected ways.