"Weg der Befleckung" - "Bloksbergscene" 1857 - 1920

Max Klinger etched this "Bloksbergscene", or "Weg der Befleckung", with stark lines, conjuring a scene ripe with symbolic weight. Look at this figure carrying the other on its back: this act transcends mere assistance. It echoes ancient mythologies where burdens signify deeper, often hidden truths. The act of bearing another’s weight reminds one of similar motifs across epochs, from Saint Christopher carrying Christ, to Aeneas fleeing Troy with his father Anchises. But what is carried here is of a darker nature, isn't it? The Bloksberg, or Brocken, of German folklore, is where witches convene. There, the figures engage in acts of subversion and transgression, mirroring the anxieties of a society grappling with unseen forces. Consider how these motifs reappear, transformed, each time carrying a residue of their past. The emotional power lies in the way these images tap into our collective subconscious, stirring feelings of unease and recognition. This isn't just a linear progression but a cyclical return, where symbols resurface, evolved, and laden with new meaning.