Peter Schlemihl Sells His Shadow 1836

This etching by Adolf Schrödter illustrates a scene where Peter Schlemihl, a man in a fancy coat, sells his shadow to a strange, lanky figure. The shadow, a symbol of identity and social standing, is traded away. We see this motif echoed across different cultural narratives – from folklore about selling one's soul to the devil, to myths where shadows represent the hidden aspects of the self. The act of relinquishing the shadow is a recurring theme, symbolizing the loss of an essential part of one's being. This sacrifice might grant immediate advantages but at the cost of alienation and existential dread. Consider the persistent motif of the double or Doppelgänger, a shadow self. In literature and art, it often embodies repressed desires or fears. Schrödter’s image captures a moment of profound psychological tension. It reveals our deepest fears of losing ourselves in pursuit of fleeting gains. The shadow is a symbol of identity and connection to the physical world. Its loss leaves Peter fundamentally altered, adrift in a world that no longer recognizes him.