Atlas op globe 1670 - 1690

This print presents Atlas, the Titan of Greek myth, bearing the weight of the world upon his shoulders. Here, the world is represented as a vast, meticulously detailed globe. Atlas, condemned to this eternal burden, symbolizes endurance, but also profound suffering. His image has journeyed across time. Consider Michelangelo's depiction of the bound Prometheus, whose torment mirrors Atlas's, yet each embodies a unique facet of human resilience and despair. The globe itself, covered in lands, evokes both the known and the unknown, and it serves as a representation of the universe. This symbolizes the human desire to map and understand our world. The emotional weight of this image resonates deeply, evoking the awe and the anxiety that accompanies our quest for knowledge. It speaks to our collective memory of the cosmos, of the human condition, and the burdens we carry.