Babylonische spraakverwarring Possibly 1597 - 1718

This is "Babylonian Confusion" by Zacharias Dolendo, an engraving of the early 17th century, now in the Rijksmuseum collection. Dominating the scene is the Tower of Babel, a symbol of human ambition spiraling into chaos. This ziggurat-like structure, with its endless stairs, represents humanity's attempt to reach the divine, a hubristic endeavor punished by linguistic division. The image is populated with figures in disarray, their gestures of confusion echoing across time. This motif of disorder reminds me of the classical depictions of the fall of the Titans, where the giants attempt to overthrow the gods, a theme reprised in Milton's "Paradise Lost." The motif of the tower is not confined to Genesis; it reappears in various forms throughout history, from the minarets of Islam to modern skyscrapers. These structures, like the Tower of Babel, evoke a collective memory of ambition, a psychoanalytic symptom of our longing for transcendence and our fear of overreaching. A potent, visual reminder of humanity's complex relationship with progress and the divine.