Les Ruines a gauche 1605 - 1650

Jean Morin made "Les Ruines a gauche" sometime between 1625 and 1650, using etching on laid paper. During the 17th century, Europe was experiencing profound political and social changes, including religious conflicts and the rise of powerful centralized states. Here, Morin presents us with a scene of decaying architecture, overtaken by nature. Ruins evoke a sense of loss and the passage of time, reflecting the transience of human achievements. The figures in the foreground, dwarfed by the landscape, further emphasize human insignificance. Consider how Morin’s choice to depict ruins may reflect broader cultural anxieties about change and decay. Perhaps it is a meditation on power, fragility, and the inevitable decline of empires. These themes resonated deeply in a society undergoing constant transformation. This piece invites us to contemplate our place in the grand sweep of history, acknowledging that all things, no matter how grand, are ultimately subject to decay.