Diethers Abschied vom Kloster MaulbronnIllustration zu_ Heinrich Steinhausen, „Irmela. Eine Geschichte aus alter Zeit“, Prachtausgabe, Leipzig_ Georg Böhme, [1884], S. 17 c. 1884

Wilhelm Steinhausen rendered this illustration of Diethers' departure from Maulbronn Monastery in the late 19th century. The image is dominated by the looming monastic architecture and the rising sun, which symbolizes enlightenment, hope, and new beginnings. This symbol has traversed epochs; in ancient Egypt, the sun god Ra represented creation and rebirth. Here, the rising sun casts an ethereal glow upon Diether as he embarks on a journey, suggesting a divine blessing, but also a spiritual awakening. The gesture of departure itself is pregnant with meaning, a universal motif found in countless artistic and literary traditions. Like the prodigal son or the hero setting forth on a quest, Diether’s exit embodies a profound psychological tension between security and freedom. This visual symbol evokes deep-seated emotions, as it taps into our own collective memories of leaving home, a primal human experience that resonates across time.