Blick auf zwei Wolfenbütteler Bürgerhäuser c. 1875

Wilhelm Busch sketched "Blick auf zwei Wolfenbütteler Bürgerhäuser" with graphite, capturing a street scene dominated by the architecture of the buildings and a prominent bell. Consider this bell, a motif resonating through time. In antiquity, bells summoned citizens for assembly, echoing in town squares across Europe. The bell's form, too, is noteworthy; think of its resemblance to the "Tintinnabulum," an ancient Roman phallic wind chime believed to ward off evil. The psychological weight of the bell lies in its auditory power, a call to attention, a warning, or a celebration. It invades the subconscious, stirring deep-seated emotions and memories. Like the caduceus—transformed from a mere staff to a symbol of medicine—the bell too has undergone a metamorphosis. This humble bell is not merely a signal; it is a vessel of collective memory, forever resonating with the echoes of history.