Der blæses alarm i Flensborg. 1872

Editor: Here we have H.C. Henneberg's 1872 woodcut, "Alarm Bells Ring in Flensborg." It has this raw, almost urgent quality to it with its stark lines. The figures seem very determined. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: The alarm bell… it isn't just a warning of danger; it's the heart beating faster, a breath held, that primal urge to protect, defend. It reminds me of my grandmother’s stories, tales of resilience woven with folklore and hardtack. What is everyone running from... or toward? Do you see that burial mound there? Like the alarm bell, its a remnant from the past echoing in the present. Editor: Yes, the figures do appear ready for conflict, but there is a solemn mood, maybe reflective too. Is the mound intended to convey the weight of history and the sacrifices that were made to get there? Curator: Absolutely! Notice how the figure sowing seeds contrasts with those armed for conflict. Sowing symbolizes hope, a future despite the alarm. Perhaps Henneberg's woodcut is a statement on the cyclical nature of life – conflict and creation intertwined. Don't you think? It also looks like maybe two or more different moments in time in this same scene, juxtaposed. Editor: I think you’re right. It’s powerful how such a simple medium like woodcut can hold such complexity. The use of stark contrasts really drives home that duality you mentioned. The past and present… and future perhaps. Curator: Precisely! Art whispers its secrets if you listen closely. And sometimes... well, sometimes it yells them from the rooftops. Just like an alarm bell.