Chaos (?) 1768 - 1771

Jean Charles Delafosse created this drawing, titled "Chaos," with pen and grey ink around 1768, now held in the Rijksmuseum. The image presents an elaborate architectural design, rich with symbolic motifs drawn from classical antiquity. At its heart, we find a boat, an emblem deeply rooted in human culture. It evokes journeys, transitions, and the voyage across the sea of life. The boat appears framed by a laurel wreath, a symbol of triumph and eternal life, often associated with the achievements of heroes and gods. The bucranium above the laurel wreath is a reminder of sacrifice, and speaks to the eternal cycle of life and death. The boat motif, though, appears in other contexts, like ancient Egyptian funerary rites, where boats are seen as vehicles carrying souls to the afterlife. Over time, its significance shifted, resonating with the collective unconscious, evoking the primal human experience of navigating the unknown, as seen here. This symbol has resurfaced and been reinterpreted throughout history, always carrying a powerful, deeply embedded emotional charge.