Josef Wassermann sees two faces in the rock below the Alpspitze - for him clearly a Pietà.
Nature provides something that gives comfort.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen – Josef Wassermann still remembers well how he discovered the faces in the rock.
It's been a good 20 years.
He sat on a bench on the Lainbach not far from the Alpspitz wave pool, let his eyes wander - and was captivated.
For the Farchanter, who is rooted in faith, Jesus and Mary clearly stand out to the right of the Kreuzeck mountain station below the Alpspitze.
"The Felsenpietà": Farchanter sees Mary and Jesus in the mountain wall
The mother is holding her son who has just been taken down from the cross.
He calls his discovery "The Felsenpietà".
In the visual arts, a pietà is also called a somewhat unspecific Marian Lamentation.
It is the depiction of Mary as Mater Dolorosa (Mother of Sorrows), holding the body of Jesus Christ in her lap.
It's an intimate moment.
One who makes clear to Christians the sacrifice made by the Son of God and his mother.
"As a Christian, I recognize that," says Wassermann.
Here nature provides something that gives comfort.
And always different – depending on the weather or the incidence of light.
Ever since he discovered the faces in the rock, he keeps looking there.
He could spot them from Oberau too.
"It's a gift for me to be able to recognize something like that." Others, he knows from conversations, interpret the formation as a couple.
For a woman who posted the picture on Facebook, it is "two faces snuggling together."
Others agree and say they spotted the picture too.
"The mountains are watching over us" can also be read.
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Aquarius wants to share his discovery - in a book?
No matter what one sees in the rocks, Aquarius is important to point out nature's bounty.
He's not one of those people who scans every mountain massif in search of possible images.
His rock pietà is enough for him.
After the faces reminded him of Sieger Köder's pictures, he visited the Catholic priest and artist.
To his delight, the "preacher with pictures", who died in 2015, made a pencil drawing that fits his interpretation.
Wassermann has now taken hundreds of photos of the "rock relief high above Garmisch-Partenkirchen".
He is also toying with the idea of bundling them in a book.
He would like to share his discovery.
In the hope "that it will also give comfort to others".
You can find more current news from the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen at Merkur.de/Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
