Hercules plaatst een globe op de schouders van Atlas 1695

This print depicts Hercules assisting Atlas, a scene rich with symbolism. Atlas, condemned to carry the world, finds respite as Hercules shares his burden. Consider the globe itself, marked with the fleur-de-lis, an emblem of French royalty. This symbol, once signifying divine right and power, echoes through history, from ancient heraldry to modern national identity. Its presence here subtly asserts French dominance in cartography and global knowledge. We see how the weight of power, like Atlas' burden, can shift. This imagery invites a psychoanalytic interpretation. The act of bearing weight speaks to collective burdens, shared responsibilities, and the psychological strain of leadership. The globe, a symbol of the world, becomes a stage for projecting anxieties about power, stability, and control. These deeply rooted themes continue to resonate today, revealing the cyclical nature of history.