Untitled [boy looking over bridge] 1920

Jaromír Funke captured this silver gelatin print, "Untitled [boy looking over bridge]," a powerful visual metaphor. The boy's gaze is directed downward, a symbol of introspection and contemplation, reminiscent of Narcissus gazing into his own reflection, or Ophelia before her fateful plunge. This motif of downward looking appears throughout art history, evoking themes of sorrow, reflection, and the passage of time. Consider ancient Roman funerary sculptures where figures often look down in mourning, or Renaissance paintings depicting the deposition of Christ. The act of looking over a precipice has a psychological dimension; it represents confronting the unknown or peering into the depths of one’s own subconscious. Shadow and light play upon the stone, symbolizing opposing forces in the human psyche, engaging viewers on a subconscious level. The boy’s shadow embodies the cyclical progression of symbolism, resurfacing, evolving, and acquiring new significance across diverse historical milieus.