Kisten bouwen in het water Possibly 1677 - 1696

This engraving shows the construction and mishandling of caissons, or watertight structures, in a marine setting. But it is the motif of disaster I wish to point out. Note the lower panel depicting a caisson breaking apart, throwing men into the water. A figure in the lower right flees, cloak billowing, in the very picture of terror. This posture echoes the classical "Pathosformel"—the formula of pathos—a visual trope for conveying intense emotion, seen, for instance, in the fleeing figures of the Trojan War. This visual shorthand transcends mere depiction; it taps into a deeper, collective memory of primal fear and chaos. Consider how such a gesture appears across epochs: from ancient friezes to Renaissance paintings. Despite variations in style and context, the underlying emotional charge persists, passed down through generations of artists and viewers. The enduring presence of such motifs reveals the power of images to elicit powerful, subconscious reactions.