Incendie dans le port de Bordeaux 1869

Maxime Lalanne’s etching captures a scene of destruction and chaos, dominated by the overwhelming symbol of fire. Flames engulf ships in the harbor of Bordeaux, mirroring our long-held fascination with the spectacle of destruction. Fire, historically, has been a powerful symbol, both destructive and transformative. We see its echoes in mythological narratives like the burning of Troy, or the apocalyptic visions of religious texts. It represents purification, rebirth, but also terror and loss. Observe how the flames here evoke similar feelings to those elicited by depictions of the underworld or scenes of divine wrath. Across cultures, fire is often associated with the subconscious, with raw emotion unleashed. Lalanne’s scene taps into this collective memory, stirring a primeval dread within us. It is in this cyclical progression that symbols resurface, evolving to take on new meanings in our collective consciousness.