Opname van zonnevlekken door het observatorium van Catane before 1899

M. Mascari captured these drawings of sunspots at the Catania Observatory. These spots, blemishes on our radiant sun, remind us that even the most constant symbols are subject to change. Consider how ancient cultures revered the sun as a divine, life-giving force. Yet here, we see imperfections, shadows that disrupt the flawless image of celestial perfection. These sunspots challenge our notion of an eternal, unchanging symbol, a cosmic force that has shaped our understanding of the world. The symbolism of light and darkness, of the sun's power and its vulnerability, echoes across epochs. Think of the recurring motif of the solar eclipse in art and mythology, a moment of cosmic uncertainty. Just as the sunspots disrupt the expected image of the sun, psychological disruptions of collective memory lead to an anxiety which is reflected in art, as a collective emotional state projected onto the cosmos. Symbols progress in cycles, mirroring the cyclical nature of human experience itself. These humble drawings invite us to contemplate the enduring power of symbols and their capacity to reflect our deepest fears and hopes.