At the beginning of the 19th century, as artists began to create for themselves rather than for patrons, they began to view creativity as originating in their inner lives. This shift marked the cultural atmosphere of the time and announced the birth of Romanticism, which would dominate the art world during the first half of the century. The technically eloquent paintings of German master Caspar Friedrich show his sensitive ability to express the connection between man and nature.

Friedrich specialized in striking landscapes, and many art historians consider his Wanderer above the Sea of Clouds the manifesto of Romanticism. A lonely man on top of a hill looks onto a grandiose landscape, his soul sublimely surrendering to his perception of the divine. United with nature, the man achieves a direct experience with God.

Although The Wanderer above the Sea of Clouds is a striking landscape, I felt the urge to expand its majesty even further by transforming it into a symbolic artwork. The resulting work, found on the adjacent page, is titled Infinite Nothingness.

Infinite Nothingness, 2002
Serge Polakoff

By drastically reducing the subject in Friedrich's painting, the meaning has completely changed. The landscape remains grandiose, but Infinite Nothingness now adds a humbling message to the divine communion with nature. Compared with the power of nature, humans are infinitely small, much smaller than their egos would like them to believe.

The landscape has now an olive green cast indicating that our planet is currently not a healthy one, threatened as it is by massive destruction imposed by power-hungry egos that engage in religious wars, violations of human rights, genocide, and environmental degradation, just to name a few.

To make certain that all viewers comprehend the symbolic meaning of Infinite Nothingness, I have included this message: "While the atoms of six billion people would fit in one teaspoon, how come the entire planet is too small for their egos." It is my belief that the opposite of love is not hate but power. The answer for a better future is therefore to be found in more love, sincerity and humility, in every one of us and especially in our leaders.