After the Simoom 

Jean-François Portaels painted "After the Simoom" with oil on canvas, portraying the aftermath of a desert storm. The devastation is palpable: lifeless figures scattered across the ochre landscape, a fallen camel, and discarded belongings. The image echoes ancient symbols of mortality and the futility of human endeavor against the forces of nature. One is reminded of classical depictions of shipwrecks or plague-ridden cities—themes that resonate across millennia. The prone figures evoke images of fallen warriors or victims of pestilence, a motif seen in both classical friezes and medieval danse macabre. Consider the lone camel, an animal of burden and resilience, now rendered lifeless. This is a powerful symbol of broken strength, a theme echoed in depictions of fallen empires and defeated heroes. The starkness of the scene engages our subconscious fears, reminding us of our vulnerability. Such a symbol has resurfaced through history, adapted, and adopted by artists and cultures alike.