Gezicht op een haven tijdens storm 1847 - 1890

Louis Artan captured this stormy harbor scene with etching. The churning sea, the ominous sky, and the precarious structures are charged with symbolic power. The image of a storm has long resonated with humanity. We find it in ancient myths, such as the floods of the Old Testament or the raging tempests of Homer's Odyssey. These stories are not just about physical events, but about the overwhelming power of nature and the trials humans face. Notice how the artist depicts the waves almost as living entities. This recalls the ancient Greek concept of Poseidon, god of the sea, who could stir up storms with his trident. This anthropomorphism reflects our deep-seated tendency to project human emotions and intentions onto the natural world. The cyclical nature of storms mirrors the human condition—periods of turmoil followed by calm, destruction followed by renewal. Artan’s etching taps into this primal understanding. It speaks to the subconscious recognition of our own vulnerability in the face of overwhelming forces, a theme that continues to resurface throughout art history.