Filosoof Empedocles vlakbij de toppen van de Etna 1778

Louis Mayer made this pencil drawing titled 'Filosoof Empedocles vlakbij de toppen van de Etna', which translates to 'Philosopher Empedocles near the peaks of Mount Etna.' Here, we see Empedocles, a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher, poised near the edge of the volcanic Mount Etna. The drawing seems to capture a moment of contemplation. Empedocles, known for his belief in the four elements, is said to have jumped into the volcano either to prove his immortality or to leave no trace of his death, thus becoming a legend. What does it mean to seek oblivion, or immortality in such a dramatic fashion? Was it a moment of enlightened insight or tragic despair? This drawing leaves us to consider Empedocles' motivations, his place in the history of ideas, and the complex relationship between ambition, legacy, and the natural world.