Romeinen verslaan Hasdrubal 1574

This engraving depicts the Romans defeating Hasdrubal, filled with images of conflict and power dynamics that echo through time. At the center, war elephants evoke strength and exoticism, symbols of military might that reappear in various cultures, from ancient India to Hannibal's campaigns. Note how the elephant, a symbol of wisdom and royalty in the East, is here re-contextualized as a war machine, its original symbolism transformed. The border, adorned with figures and foliage, frames the central conflict, reminiscent of classical friezes which themselves served as a stage for conveying cultural values and historical narratives. This act of framing, of containing chaos within order, reflects a deep-seated human desire to control and understand our world. Consider how these symbols of power and conflict, passed down through generations, continue to resonate, evoking primal fears and aspirations of dominance. It is this continuous cycle of reinterpretation and re-emergence that reveals the enduring psychological power of images.