De aarde c. 1758 - 1760

Jakob Wangner created this print, “De aarde”, which translates to “The Earth,” sometime in the 18th century. Here, we see Terra, or Earth, personified as a classical figure. Note the contrast between the naturalistic rendering of the figure and the rather hellish landscape; fire erupts from a crevice in the ground, perhaps alluding to divine retribution. This imagery evokes the story of Korah from the Book of Numbers, whose rebellion against Moses resulted in the earth opening up and swallowing him and his followers. Consider this: The motif of the earth swallowing people as punishment appears across cultures and epochs. We might recall similar imagery in Dante's Inferno, where different levels of hell are filled with sinners being punished. Such recurring motifs resonate within the collective unconscious, revealing a psychological link between humanity's fear of divine retribution and the overwhelming power of nature. These symbols are not static; they evolve, take on new meanings, and resurface in different contexts, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level.