Sheet with abstract pattern 1800 - 1900

Here lies a sheet with an abstract pattern, its origin unknown, resting at the Metropolitan Museum. Let us consider the pattern—dots and dashes that could be cosmic or cellular, emblems of an unseen order. The dots, like distant suns, recall celestial maps charting the unknown. The dashes, resembling comets, suggest movement and change. In ancient times, such motifs served as protective amulets, thought to ward off unseen forces. We see echoes of this in modern art, where abstraction becomes a language of the subconscious. These symbols are vessels of collective memory, carrying emotional power across time, engaging viewers on a primal level. They remind us of the cyclical nature of symbols—how they resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings, connecting us to the ever-turning wheel of history.