Twee mannen verdwijnen in de vloer 1711

Bernard Picart etched "Two Men Disappearing into the Floor" in 1722, capturing a curious scene with symbolic weight. Here, we observe the motif of 'vanishing,' an inversion of the well-known trope of ascension or epiphany. Consider the stage magician, a figure that emerges in antiquity, a cultural mirror reflecting both wonder and skepticism. His gestures, seemingly causing men to disappear, are echoed through time. These gestures become potent signifiers of deception or illusion. But what if it is not deception at play? The men are quite literally sinking, but we find this motif also in spiritual contexts – in accounts of saints or religious figures who sink into the earth as an act of humility or devotion. This image captures a moment where rational and irrational forces collide, engaging our subconscious with the primal fear of disappearing into the unknown, yet doing so in a manner that suggests transformation rather than obliteration. The symbol takes on a life of its own, oscillating between satire and the sacred.