Soldaten overvallen door een plaag van monsterlijke slangen 1652 - 1707

Franz Ertinger created this etching, "Soldiers Overcome by a Plague of Monstrous Snakes," sometime in the 17th century. It depicts a scene of chaos as soldiers, both on foot and horseback, are attacked by snakes of enormous proportions. During Ertinger's time, Europe was marked by religious conflicts and the rise of powerful empires. Visual culture often reflected themes of power, morality, and divine intervention. Here, the plague of snakes can be interpreted on multiple registers. On one hand, we may read this as divine retribution, a warning against the ambitions and moral failings of military campaigns. On the other hand, we may see a representation of the unpredictable and devastating consequences of war, which spares no one. I am especially drawn to how the artist captures the raw, visceral experience of fear and desperation. The bodies are contorted, and there’s a palpable sense of panic. The image resonates as a reminder of the human cost of conflict, where individuals are vulnerable to forces beyond their control.