Slag bij Solebay, 1672 1848 - 1855

Petrus Johannes Schotel created this artwork of the Battle of Solebay in 1672. Here, the tumultuous sea and towering ships are not merely objects, but symbols of primal forces clashing. Consider the smoke, a motif recurring across epochs, from ancient depictions of volcanic gods to modern war photography. It represents chaos, destruction, but also transformation. The billowing smoke here recalls the fires of Vulcan, the Roman god of fire, whose forge was a place of both creation and destruction. Similarly, in this naval battle, the smoke obscures and reveals, signaling the end of some things and the beginning of others. The ships themselves, locked in combat, echo images of mythical sea monsters locked in mortal combat, a motif found in classical and medieval bestiaries. This imagery engages our collective memory and subconscious, evoking feelings of awe and terror, reminding us of the cyclical nature of conflict and renewal throughout history.