Zeilschepen in de haven van Oostende 1860 - 1921

Adolf le Comte sketched these Zeilschepen in the Oostende harbor with graphite and colored pencil. The masts of these ships, piercing the sky, speak to a history deeply rooted in the human aspiration to transcend earthly bounds. The ship motif, ubiquitous in art, mirrors the soul's journey, and here, in Oostende, it is no different. Consider how ancient Egyptian barques ferried souls across the Nile to the afterlife, or the ship-shaped Viking burials meant to carry warriors to Valhalla. These vessels are more than mere transportation; they embody the crossing of thresholds, the courage to venture into the unknown, a potent symbol that persists. The sails evoke our yearning for freedom, the subconscious desire to navigate the unpredictable currents of life, and the promise of safe return to the harbor.