Angst 1966

This print, Angst, by Aat Verhoog, presents us with potent symbols of human emotion. On one side, a figure with nascent wings reaches out, an ambivalent symbol, perhaps of aspiration or escape. In contrast, the red figure with raised hands embodies distress, seemingly trapped. Consider the raised hands, a gesture echoing through art history. Think of the figures in Edvard Munch's "The Scream," or even further back, the supplicants in ancient religious art. It's a primal expression of fear or desperation, a plea found across cultures. Such gestures tap into our collective memory, evoking a subconscious recognition of shared human experiences. It's a potent symbol that transcends time. This reflects the cyclical nature of human emotion, fear, and hope, recurring themes throughout history, constantly resurfacing and reshaping.