Initial S c. 1884

This "Initial S," made by Wilhelm Steinhausen, features floral and celestial motifs surrounding the letter 'S.' The stylized sun-like figures scattered around the letter echo ancient symbols of divinity and life-giving energy. Consider the sun discs in Egyptian art, representing deities and cosmic power. The flowers represent beauty and renewal, their arrangement within the letterform suggesting a garden, a symbol of paradise, or a hidden sanctuary. The placement of flowers within the letter echoes images of ‘hortus conclusus’ or ‘enclosed garden’ associated with the Virgin Mary. The letter 'S,' itself, serpent-like, coils around these elements. Think of the serpent in mythology, a symbol of transformation and cyclical rebirth. The letter is both a container and a pathway, leading us into a world of symbols, a journey through cultural memory, and a reminder of the endless cycle of images resurfacing across time.