Plague of Ashtod n.d.

Nicolas Poussin crafted this ink drawing, *Plague of Ashdod*, to depict a scene of devastation. Amidst the classical architecture, we find bodies strewn across the ground. A man gestures urgently towards an altar, perhaps indicating the source of the divine retribution. The plague motif is a recurring symbol throughout art history. Think of the danse macabre in medieval art, where death dances with the living. Here, the figures collapse, a gesture echoing the suffering found in depictions of the crucifixion, a symbol of ultimate sacrifice and agony. This posture, laden with despair, transcends its immediate context, reappearing in countless artistic renderings of human suffering, each carrying echoes of collective trauma and the subconscious fears of mortality. These motifs reflect a cyclical progression, resurfacing and evolving across historical contexts, consistently engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level.