Gebouw met souvenirs aan de slag bij Waterloo 1842

This print by H. Gérard depicts a building near Waterloo that sold war souvenirs after the battle. Observe the vines climbing the façade, life persisting amid ruin. Vines, like ivy, often symbolize memory, connection, and eternal life, reaching and grasping—echoing our own grasp on the past. This motif extends back to classical antiquity, where it was often associated with Bacchus, the god of wine, ecstasy, and rebirth. Centuries later, we see vines intertwined around crosses in Christian iconography, symbolizing Christ's sacrifice and resurrection. Here, the vines at Waterloo perhaps speak to the human desire to remember, to find life and renewal amidst destruction, a theme seen across time and cultures. In a psychoanalytic sense, they reveal how we collectively process trauma, seeking symbols of hope to soothe the subconscious. The vines have resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings.