Schuiten in de Seine in Parijs 1896

Pieter Dupont's etching captures a moment on the Seine in Paris, with barges at rest taking center stage. The prominent feature is the mast on each boat, standing tall like silent sentinels. The mast, simple in its form, is a symbol that has carried deep meaning across cultures. Think of the ship masts of antiquity, their height suggestive of power and exploration, or even the maypoles of ancient European fertility rituals. These were more than just functional objects; they were conduits to the heavens, laden with symbolic weight. Here, the masts evoke a sense of rootedness and continuity. But they have a counterpart in the tall chimneys looming in the background – the masts of modernity, if you will. This visual contrast is a tug-of-war between the old world and the new. It’s not a linear progression but a continuous dance between past and present. Each mast bears the weight of history, resonating with collective memories that tug at our subconscious.