Gramschap 1675 - 1737

Pieter van den Berge rendered this watercolor drawing, “Gramschap,” which translates to wrath, capturing a moment of conflict. The composition centers around a man consumed by rage, his face contorted, leg raised to strike another figure. The aggressive stance and clenched fist are universal symbols of anger and dominance, a primal display we see echoed through time from ancient Roman reliefs to Renaissance battle scenes. Consider, for example, the recurring motif of the raised fist found in various contexts—from ancient victory monuments to modern political rallies. It carries a visceral charge, tapping into our collective memory of struggle and defiance. The image evokes a powerful, almost subconscious recognition of the volatile human emotions present in society today. This drawing is not merely a depiction of anger but an exploration of its enduring presence in the human psyche, revealing how such emotions persist, evolve, and resurface in endless variations throughout history.