Haven te Antwerpen 1922

Henri Braakensiek made this etching of the port of Antwerp around the turn of the century. Note how the towering cranes dwarf the human figure, a testament to man’s ambition to control and reshape the natural world. The image of a port is heavy with symbolism. As gateways to new worlds, ports represent not only physical travel, but the exchange of ideas, cultures, and goods. The ship itself, a vessel of both exploration and exploitation, recalls the ancient motif of the Ship of Fools. As a symbol, it speaks to humanity’s often misguided journeys and endless quests. Think of how the motif of the ship reappears in other contexts, such as in ancient Egyptian funerary boats that carried souls to the afterlife, each iteration layered with societal dreams and anxieties. The port, with its mix of commerce and movement, encapsulates a powerful emotional tension, reflecting our collective desires for progress and discovery and our subconscious fears of the unknown.