The Capture of Selinus by Hannibal 1755 - 1804

Louis Jean Desprez created this print of The Capture of Selinus by Hannibal, now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The monochromatic aquatint evokes a sense of chaos and destruction, achieved through intricate details and dramatic contrasts. The artist masterfully balances the composition between the dark, turbulent smoke in the upper register, and the frenetic activity of the ships and combatants below. The overall structure of the print relies on a semiotic interplay between light and shadow. Desprez uses the aquatint technique to create a range of tones, from the bright, almost ghostly appearance of the burning city to the dense, inky blacks of the naval vessels. The city of Selinus in flames can be read as an allegory for the transience of power and the futility of human endeavor. The architectural ruins hint at the collapse of established orders, resonating with contemporary philosophical discourse that questions fixed meanings and values. Note how the artist uses a limited palette to amplify the emotional impact. This stylistic choice emphasizes the underlying structure of the artwork, inviting the viewer to contemplate the shifting terrain of history, and the unstable nature of cultural memory.