Title page, 'Der Grossen Artillerie Feuerwerck ...' 1676

This title page, etched by Christoph Metzger in 1676, introduces a treatise on artillery. We see Vulcan, Roman god of fire and metalworking, enthroned, holding aloft a bundle of fire, a gesture reminiscent of ancient Roman symbols of power. Below him, figures forge cannons. Notice how the tools and weapons are strewn about, almost as if abandoned in frenzied creation. This scene evokes a sense of primal energy, connecting the act of creation with the destructive potential of war. The image reminds me of similar depictions of blacksmiths in medieval altarpieces; however, instead of fashioning ploughshares, they now craft instruments of war. This shift reflects a collective obsession with technological advancement, where old mythologies are re-purposed to sanctify new, more violent pursuits. It’s a potent reminder of how cultural memory shapes our perception of progress, even as it steers us toward destruction.