Zondvloed 1586 - 1630

Isaak Major created this print called 'Zondvloed' using etching and engraving techniques. The composition is starkly divided, with the left side consumed by chaotic deluge and the right offering a small space of refuge under a tree. Note how the linear quality of the etching enhances the scene's drama, with rain depicted through relentless, vertical lines. The artist skillfully uses contrast and light to lead our eyes across the scene, moving from the dark, turbulent waters to the relative calm of the group sheltered under the tree. The scene's semiotic structure reveals a world on the brink. Water, traditionally a symbol of purification, here signifies destruction, challenging conventional meanings. The gathering of people, seeking safety, can be interpreted through a structuralist lens, highlighting humanity's innate need for order and community in the face of existential threats. Major uses form to not only depict but also to question the stability of meaning and existence.