Zeegezichten met schepen en roeiboot 1689 - 1760

This print, made by Adam Silo, captures ships on a turbulent sea. Note the prominent ship, its flag a symbol of nationhood and trade, cutting through the waves. The ship as a symbol carries a rich history; from ancient Egyptian boats navigating the Nile, emblems of passage into the afterlife, to Viking longships, icons of exploration and conquest. Consider the turbulent sea. Throughout history, the sea is both a source of life and a harbinger of chaos. Think of the ancient Greeks and their reverence for Poseidon, god of the sea, whose moods mirrored the unpredictable nature of the ocean itself. In our collective consciousness, the sea evokes both fear and awe. Observe the roiling waves, their emotional impact is powerful, stirring deep, subconscious associations with the uncontrollable forces of nature. Such images recur throughout art history, revealing the human psyche’s enduring fascination with, and trepidation of, the marine world. The sea and the ship, archetypes of human endeavor, continually resurface.