Fotoreproductie van een gravure naar het schilderij The armourer door Henry Leys before 1871

This photogravure by Godfrey Wordsworth Turner reproduces Henry Leys' painting 'The Armourer,' and presents us with a scene steeped in symbolism of craft and creation. The central figure, the armourer, labours with tools that are more than mere instruments. They are extensions of his will, shaping metal just as the artist shapes our perceptions. The hammer he wields echoes the hammer of Thor, a primal force of creation and destruction, resonating through mythologies across cultures. Notice the helmet and shield nearby, these are not just protective gear, but symbols of strength, preparedness, and the readiness for conflict – a universal narrative that spans from ancient Greek warriors to medieval knights. The setting, a cluttered workshop, mirrors the mind—a repository of ideas, memories, and experiences from which creation springs. Just like the ouroboros, this image speaks to the cyclical nature of creation, destruction, and renewal, reminding us that the past is always present, shaping our understanding of the world.