Duitse troepen verlaten Antwerpen, 1577 1613 - 1615

This engraving, made in 1577 by an anonymous artist, depicts the departure of German troops from Antwerp. Note the scattered weaponry and the overthrown carts. These are not merely objects but potent symbols of disruption and chaos. The broken wheel, for instance, has echoed through art history, representing not only a literal breakdown but also the unpredictable nature of fate and the collapse of order. We see echoes of this sentiment in medieval depictions of the Wheel of Fortune, a reminder of life’s vicissitudes. Consider how such imagery taps into a collective memory, evoking feelings of unease and instability. The toppling of structures, be they physical or societal, speaks to our subconscious fears of impermanence. This primal anxiety transcends time, manifesting in art across cultures, from ancient ruins symbolizing fallen empires to modern art that captures existential dread.