De zondvloed 1528 - 1583

Etienne Delaune etched "The Flood" sometime in the 16th century. Here, the biblical deluge unfolds, rich with symbols of destruction and transformation. Note the prominent ark, a vessel of salvation, juxtaposed with the chaos of swirling waters and hybrid creatures, symbolizing the turmoil and moral corruption that prompted divine wrath. Water here acts as a symbol of purification, as well as a reminder of the precariousness of existence. The motif of the flood appears in various cultures—from ancient Mesopotamian epics to Greek mythology—each echoing humanity's fascination with catastrophic renewal. Think of the Great Flood in Ovid's Metamorphoses, where the world is purged to begin anew. This engraving taps into a deep-seated collective memory. This speaks to the enduring human experience and the psychoanalytic idea that catastrophic events engage our deepest fears and hopes for rebirth. Notice how Delaune evokes dread and awe, pulling us into a narrative woven through generations, constantly reshaped by cultural anxieties.