Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179, mysticism and music)
The German mystic and composer saw the heart as the seat of the soul and the source of divine inspiration. In her writings and songs, she emphasised the importance of the heart for spiritual health and the connection to God.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832, Literatur)
Goethe nutzte das Herz in seinen Werken als Symbol für menschliche Gefühle und Leidenschaften. In „Die Leiden des jungen Werther“ steht das Herz für die intensive emotionale Erfahrung des Protagonisten.

Emily Dickinson (1830-1886, poetry)
The American poet often used the heart as a metaphor for inner states and emotional depth. In her poems, she explored the complexity of the human heart and its mysteries.

Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890, Painting)
Van Gogh regarded the heart as a source of artistic passion. His intense colours and brushstrokes reflect the emotional depth he associated with the heart.

Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948, Politics and Spirituality)
Gandhi emphasised the importance of the heart in the practice of ahimsa (non-violence) and satyagraha (adherence to the truth). For him, a pure heart was essential for moral behaviour and spiritual purity.

strong>Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926, architecture)
The Catalan architect integrated organic forms into his designs, with the heart serving as a symbol of life and vitality. His works, such as the Sagrada Família, reflect this symbolism.

Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926, literature)
The Austrian poet saw the heart as the centre of human existence and a source of artistic inspiration. In his "Duino Elegies", he thematised the depths of the human heart.

Pablo Neruda (1904-1973, poetry)
The Chilean poet used the heart to symbolise love and passion. In his love poems, the heart is often at the centre of intense emotional experiences.

Salvador Dalí (1904-1989, Surrealism)
The Spanish artist integrated the heart into his surrealist works as a symbol of desire and the subconscious. His paintings often show distorted heart shapes that have deep psychological meanings.

Maya Angelou (1928-2014, literature and civil rights)
The American writer and activist emphasised the strength of the heart in the face of adversity. In her autobiographical works and poems, the heart symbolises resilience and compassion

Rumi (1207-1273, Sufism)
For the Sufi poet Rumi, the heart is a mirror that reflects the divine light. He describes the heart as the door to love and wisdom, which connects man with God.

Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519, Kunst und Wissenschaft)
Da Vinci betrachtete das Herz als das Zentrum des Lebens und führte bahnbrechende anatomische Studien durch. Für ihn war das Herz nicht nur ein physisches Organ, sondern auch ein Symbol für die Vitalität und Kraft des Menschen.

Blaise Pascal (1623-1662, mathematics and philosophy)
Pascal emphasised the intuitive wisdom of the heart in his famous sentence: "The heart has its reasons, which the mind does not know."

William Shakespeare (1564-1616, literature)
Shakespeare often thematised the heart in his plays as the seat of passion, love and inner conflict. For him, it was a metaphor for complex human emotions.

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827, music)
Beethoven regarded music as a language of the heart. His compositions express deep emotions and inner struggles that show the heart as a source of inspiration.

Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941, literature and spirituality)
Tagore, an Indian poet and philosopher, saw the heart as the place of unity between man and the universe. For him, the heart was the channel for love, poetry and divine truth.

Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961, psychology)
Jung regarded the heart as a symbol of the integration of consciousness and the unconscious. For him, it represents the core of the soul and the process of individuation.

Mother Teresa (1910-1997, Humanitarianism)
Mother Teresa saw the heart as the centre of selflessness and charity. For her, the heart was the place where divine love comes into action.

Frida Kahlo (1907-1954, art)
Kahlo often depicted the heart in her paintings to express emotional wounds and spiritual strength. For her, the heart symbolised pain and resilience.

Eckhart Tolle (1948-present, spirituality)
Tolle describes the heart as a place of presence and connection with the higher self. For him, the heart is a key to experiencing inner peace and enlightenment.