Montblanc rollerball writers edition homage to johann wolfgang von goethe limited edition 131438

At the centre of the intellectual movement of the 18th century was one man in particular whose words transcend time: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. A polymath, a giant of German literature, a lawyer, a government minister, a theatre director, as well as a prodigious collector and naturalist, he was in every sense a revolutionary, intent on pushing the boundaries of perception and learning ever further. Driven by an insatiable thirst for knowledge, his creative versatility knew no bounds. The philosophical depth of Faust, the lyrical refinement of his poetry, and the breadth of scientific exploration underlying his theory of colours and his botanical treatises were of epoch-making significance and attest, in their variety and far-reaching influence, to Goethe’s genius. As a poet and statesman, advisor, friend and lover, he left an indelible mark on the world around him and remains a source of inspiration and vision even today. With the support of the Klassik Stiftung Weimar and the Goethe National Museum that houses it, Montblanc dedicates its Writers Edition Homage to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Limited Edition to this universal genius, focusing in particular on his literary works. Writing was Goethe's lifeblood. The most complete edition of his works and writings currently comprises 40 volumes, containing some 3000 poems. His drama Götz von Berlichingen with the Iron Hand was published anonymously in 1773 but only a year later, in a period of frantic activity, he wrote The Sorrows of Young Werther in less than four weeks, which made the twenty-five-year-old lawyer suddenly famous. Young Werther brought German literature to the European literary scene. It is the story of a young man torn between love and duty, ardent passion and social conventions. An entire generation recognised themselves in the fate of the unhappy Werther. The novel also influenced this limited edition: its evocative description of marble inspired the look of the precious lacquer of the cap and barrel, while the engraving on the barrel ring recalls the frame of a copper illustration from an early edition of Werther. Another key design element refers to Goethe's home in Weimar. The shade of blue and the pattern of the precious lacquer reflect the colour and structure of the wallpaper in the Juno room in the writer's home. The gold and platinum-finish details also celebrate other decorative elements of the interior. A charming motif similar to a series of clover leaves is engraved around the top of the cap, taken from a letter written by Goethe to his beloved Charlotte Buff, model for the character of Lotte in his The Sorrows of Young Werther. An exceptional work of the Sturm und Drang movement, young Goethe's epistolary novel was recognised as a stroke of genius and, above all, a masterpiece of world literature. In a letter dated 26 January 1827, Goethe interpreted the term “world literature” much more literally than it is today, indicating a process of literary communication and mutual artistic stimulus at an international level. Similarly, he incorporated elements of Persian poetry into his West–Eastern Diwan cycle; such literature should aspire to be an expression of universality, transcending all linguistic, ethnic and temporal barriers. As a symbol of the concept of international literary dialogue, embodied by the term coined by Goethe “world literature”, the cap echoes the shape of a globe, crowned by the Montblanc emblem. Faust's thirst for knowledge and his irrepressible desire to unravel the secrets of the world reflect Goethe's passion for the study of natural phenomena. In old age, he even came to consider his scientific achievements more valuable than his poetic works. In his Theory of Colours, he addressed a wide range of topics, from physics to the psychology of colour, opening up a completely new perspective on the essence of colour. He also devoted himself to optics and anatomy, biology and geology, archiving thousands of scientific samples in jars and boxes. The slightly curved shape of the cap, reminiscent of an ancient apothecary jar, is a tribute to Goethe's achievements as a scientist and collector. The leaf-shaped clip pays homage to his studies in the field of morphology and, in particular, to his theory of an archetypal plant form. He also transposed this idea into verse in his didactic love poem The Metamorphosis of Plants. The inspiration for the overall design of the edition, in particular the barrel and cone, was taken from the type of historical writing instrument with which Goethe brought to paper all his knowledge, insights and fruits of his unlimited poetic imagination.