Tombe van Orazi en Curiazi op de Castra Albana 1675 - 1711

This print at the Rijksmuseum depicts the supposed tomb of the Horatii and Curiatii, legendary triplets who fought to resolve a conflict between Rome and Alba Longa. Here, the broken column and massive stones evoke the weight of history and the ruins of valor. Note how the figures struggle to move the stones. This mirrors the human struggle against fate, a theme echoed throughout art history, from classical Greek tragedies to Renaissance depictions of Hercules. The motif of the broken column, signifying loss and decay, reappears in funerary art across cultures. Think of the crumbling monuments of ancient Rome. It evokes a sense of mortality. The psychological impact of ruins lies in their ability to trigger a deep sense of time and change. Here, the artist taps into our collective memory of loss and the inevitable passage of time.