Zondvloed 1710 - 1759

Jan Wandelaar etched this image, titled Zondvloed, sometime in the 18th century. It depicts a catastrophic flood, a motif deeply embedded in human consciousness across cultures. We see figures desperately trying to escape the rising waters, some clinging to higher ground, others succumbing to the deluge. The act of reaching upwards, a gesture seen repeated throughout the image, speaks to a primal yearning for salvation. This motif echoes in countless depictions of human suffering across time, from ancient flood myths to modern disaster imagery. Note, for example, how in the Epic of Gilgamesh, Utnapishtim sends out birds to find land after the flood, which has parallels in the story of Noah’s Ark. Such symbols resonate beyond their immediate context, tapping into a collective memory of trauma and survival. The flood is not merely a natural disaster; it's a symbolic representation of the overwhelming power of nature and the fragility of human existence. Wandelaar’s etching, in its stark depiction of despair, reveals the enduring psychological impact of this ancient narrative, a story that continues to flood our collective subconscious.