Standbeeld van Fortuna 1640

This drawing by Theodor Matham depicts Fortuna, the Roman goddess of fortune, a powerful embodiment of chance made with pen and brown ink around the 17th century. Here, she carries a cornucopia, symbolizing abundance and prosperity, but her rudder is perhaps the most telling symbol. In antiquity, the rudder was an instrument to navigate ships, but in the hands of Fortuna, it represents her ability to steer the lives of individuals, cultures, and empires in unpredictable directions. We see echoes of this rudder across time and media. It appears not only in classical sculpture, but also in Renaissance paintings and even modern advertising, each time subtly altered to reflect the changing values of its era. It reminds us of the arbitrariness of fate and the human desire to control what cannot be controlled. This resonates with a profound, subconscious unease, as Fortuna’s image engages us on a visceral level, calling forth our anxieties about the uncertainties inherent in life and our relentless quest to master them.