Genius op een griffioen 1914

This 1914 postcard by Walter Tiemann depicts a nude figure riding a griffin, holding what appears to be a torch and a bouquet of flowers. The griffin, a hybrid of lion and eagle, is an ancient symbol, appearing in Near Eastern and Mediterranean art for millennia. As a guardian figure, it embodies strength and vigilance, often protecting treasures and sacred spaces. The figure with the torch and flowers alludes to classical representations of genius or spirit, bringing light and beauty. The recurrence of the griffin motif throughout art history demonstrates the tenacity of such archetypes, which appear across vastly different cultures. This image, created on the eve of the Great War, suggests an attempt to call upon these ancient symbols to perhaps ward off what was coming. The genius atop the griffin becomes a beacon of hope, desperately trying to take flight and bring light to a world on the brink.