Zeeslag bij Cadiz, 1781 1782

Mathias de Sallieth etched this print, now at the Rijksmuseum, depicting the naval battle of Cadiz in 1781. The smoke of cannons fills the scene, a motif that transcends mere representation of warfare. Consider, the cloud, a symbol laden with meaning across cultures. In antiquity, clouds were the domain of gods, obscuring and revealing divine presence. Here, the smoke, a modern cloud, shrouds the violence of man, yet evokes similar feelings of awe and terror. This imagery echoes in Delacroix's later works, where smoke and atmosphere become central to conveying the drama of human conflict. The billowing smoke reminds us that symbols never truly disappear; they transform, resurface, and continue to engage us on a subconscious level. It is a testament to the enduring power of symbols to capture and convey the complexities of human experience across time.