Bliksem slaat in op twee schepen tijdens een storm 1771 - 1772

Thomas Watson created this mezzotint, “Bliksem slaat in op twee schepen tijdens een storm”, during a period when maritime power was central to global politics. Here, the overwhelming force of nature exposes the vulnerability of human ambition. The ships, caught in a violent storm, are rendered as victims rather than symbols of power. Lightning strikes, not as a divine act, but as a stark reminder of the unpredictable forces governing our world. We see the dramatic clash between human endeavor and the sublime indifference of nature, a theme resonant with the anxieties of the era. This image invites us to consider the narratives we construct around exploration and conquest, and perhaps to reassess the cost of these ambitions. What does it mean to witness such turmoil, and how does it shape our understanding of power, both natural and human? The emotional weight of this scene lies in its ability to provoke a sense of awe and unease, reflecting our own precarious place within a larger, uncontrollable world.