Spotprent op de watersnoodloterij, 1861 1861

Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans created this print in 1861, a commentary on the lottery for flood relief. The central, tilted frame displays chaotic sketches of animals—horses, dogs, perhaps a deer—evoking the unpredictable nature of fate and the hunt. These animals, caught in mid-motion, remind us of similar motifs found in Paleolithic cave paintings and ancient tapestries. They resurface throughout history, each time mirroring a culture's anxieties about chance and survival. Think of the Roman mosaics depicting hunts or the medieval tapestries with mythical beasts. The tilted frame itself is a symbol. It reminds me of the wheel of fortune, or perhaps even a distorting mirror reflecting society's hopes and disappointments. It is this cyclical progression—the eternal return of symbols—that captivates us. Each era leaves its mark, layering new meanings onto these ancient forms.