Schipbrug van Parma over de Schelde opgeblazen, 1585 c. 1587 - 1591

This print, made in 1585 by Frans Hogenberg, depicts the exploded ship bridge of Parma over the Schelde. Notice the prominent image of the explosion—a motif that appears throughout art history. Consider the volcanic eruption in Piranesi's depictions of Pompeii. These images invoke not just destruction, but a primal, almost uncontrollable force. It is a force that transcends the immediate devastation. It reminds us of humanity's struggle against nature and the ephemerality of our achievements. The motif of the explosion, with its chaotic energy, taps into our collective memory of cataclysmic events. Thinkers like Freud would argue this connects to deep-seated anxieties about destruction and renewal. This visual echo has resurfaced and been reinterpreted across time, each instance layering new meanings onto the old. It reflects our subconscious grappling with change, loss, and the relentless march of time.