Brug op een schip te Cherbourg 1862 - 1876

Jean Andrieu captured this photograph of a ship in Cherbourg using the stereo photography technique. Dominating the scene are the cannons, symbols of power and defense, arranged meticulously along the deck. These imposing objects evoke a sense of strength but also carry an undertone of potential conflict, a duality deeply embedded in human history. Cannons, as instruments of war, remind us of Mars, the god of war, whose symbolism stretches from ancient Roman battlefields to Renaissance art and beyond. Consider, for example, how Leonardo da Vinci, an artist better known for the Mona Lisa, also designed war machines. These weapons of war, regardless of the era, tap into a primal aspect of our collective psyche, representing our capacity for destruction and our struggle for security. The presence of these cannons engages us on a subconscious level, stirring emotions tied to protection and fear. It's a potent reminder of how the symbols of war, like the image of the snake, persist through time, evolving yet retaining their core emotional resonance. These symbols reappear in different contexts, mirroring our ongoing engagement with the themes of power and survival.