Sculptuur 'L'âge de fer' door Alfred-Désiré Lanson before 1884

This photograph captures Alfred-Désiré Lanson’s sculpture, 'L'âge de fer,' or 'The Iron Age.' The dominant visual symbol is the triumphant, spear-wielding figure standing over a defeated one, a motif rich with historical and cultural context. The victorious stance, the assertive spear, and the subjugated figure beneath are echoes of ancient power dynamics. Consider the Winged Victory of Samothrace—a Hellenistic sculpture embodying triumph—or even depictions of Roman emperors standing over conquered foes. These recurring symbols speak to a primal narrative of dominance and submission that resonates across time. The emotional power of this image lies in its stark contrast, the psychological tension between the victor's assuredness and the defeated's despair. This cyclical pattern of rise and fall, dominance and submission, transcends individual moments, engaging our collective memory and subconscious understanding of power. Through Lanson’s photograph, we recognize the timeless, cyclical recurrence of symbols, resurfacing in different eras, evolving, yet retaining their visceral impact.