XIX Exonerat et arcet 1614

This engraving by Roemer Visscher, dating back to the late 16th or early 17th century, features a lock or sluice gate—a vital symbol of Dutch ingenuity in water management. Such structures controlled the flow of water, protecting the land and enabling prosperity. The motif of controlled waters appears throughout history, from ancient Mesopotamia to Roman aqueducts. It often represents order, control, and the triumph of civilization over the chaos of nature. Yet, the same water, if uncontrolled, can become a symbol of destruction, a force of collective anxiety. Consider how the act of controlling water, of ‘exonerating and warding off’ as the inscription suggests, taps into deeper psychological needs. It addresses our primal fears of being overwhelmed, mirroring our subconscious struggle to manage inner chaos. Just as the Dutch controlled their waters, so too must we manage the currents within ourselves. This image, therefore, resonates not just as a historical artifact, but as a timeless metaphor for human resilience and the quest for inner equilibrium.