Gezicht op een dorpsstraat aan de voet van de Etna 1862 - 1876

This stereoscopic photograph captures a village street at the base of Mount Etna, taken by Jean Andrieu. Here, the dominant symbol is the imposing presence of the volcano, which looms in the background. Etna, as a symbol, echoes across time. It evokes the forges of Vulcan, the Roman god of fire, whose workshops were said to be beneath the mountain. This is an idea that stretches back into antiquity. Think of the ever-churning, chaotic energy that lies beneath the surface—much like our own subconscious. The volcano's looming presence is a constant reminder of the elemental forces that can erupt without warning. We see this primal fear mirrored throughout art history. Think of the apocalyptic landscapes of Romantic painters like John Martin, where nature's overwhelming power dwarfs humanity. This photograph makes us ponder the cyclical nature of destruction and rebirth, and how these ideas are rooted deep in our collective psyche.