Den unge mand undsiger hanen 1860

Lorenz Frølich crafted this intriguing drawing using pen and brown ink. At its heart lies the defiant gesture of a young man, disavowing the crowing rooster above. This rooster, a symbol of dawn and awakening, is a powerful motif laden with historical weight. The rooster's crow has been a wake-up call across cultures, appearing in folklore from the East to the West. Yet, here, the young man rejects its call, turning away from duty, perhaps succumbing to the allure of night, pleasure or the intoxicating embrace of the figures below. Think of the rooster in the Passion of Christ, crowing as Peter denies Christ—a moment of profound betrayal and human fallibility. Here, the image resonates with youthful rebellion. We confront the cyclical nature of symbols, their ability to resurface and be reinterpreted, echoing our deepest subconscious struggles.