Hantée par une aurore fragile 1947

Jaroslav Serpan made this ink drawing titled 'Haunted by a Fragile Dawn' with an intricate array of biomorphic forms. These suggestive shapes evoke both organic growth and decay. Notice the toothy maws and claw-like protrusions. It reminds me of the medieval Sheela na gigs, with their exaggerated features, a grotesque yet compelling image representing life's raw, primal energies. This motif, found on churches and castles, served as an apotropaic symbol warding off evil while also embodying the generative forces of nature. Here, Serpan presents a similar paradox. The interplay of creation and destruction is a dance as old as time, echoing through art history. The dawn is typically a symbol of hope and renewal, but here it appears to be fragile, suggesting a vulnerability in the face of darker, more chaotic forces. This image captivates us through its embodiment of primordial fears and desires. It is this tension between the life-affirming and the destructive that resonates so deeply within our collective psyche.