Niels Klim dukker igen op mellem de norske klipper 1786 - 1788

J.F. Clemens etched this scene of Niels Klim among Norwegian cliffs. Note Klim’s pose: one arm raised, the other extended, a gesture of surprise and perhaps fear. This configuration, echoing the "pathos formula," reminds us of figures like the ancient Orans, beseeching deities with raised hands, a plea found in early Christian art. The image's emotional intensity resonates with the motif of sudden revelation. Klim, overwhelmed by the aurora borealis, embodies the sublime encounter with nature’s power. Think of the ecstatic saints, caught in moments of divine vision. Klim's wide-eyed expression mirrors their spiritual transport, reflecting a deep, subconscious yearning for transcendence. The "pathos formula" here is not merely a historical echo, but a living expression of human emotion, a visual language that speaks to our deepest fears and hopes across time. This pose resurfaces, transformed yet recognizable, in art across centuries, carrying with it a freight of collective memory.