Ship-Building, Gloucester Harbor (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. XVII) 1873

Winslow Homer created this wood engraving titled "Ship-Building, Gloucester Harbor" for Harper's Weekly. The dominant visual symbol here is, of course, the ship itself, embodying themes of exploration, trade, and human ingenuity. Consider how the ship, since antiquity, has been more than mere transportation. Think of the ancient Egyptians who buried solar barques with their pharaohs to transport them to the afterlife. Similarly, the Vikings, who saw the ship as a vessel carrying warriors to Valhalla. The act of building is also powerful. It mirrors the human desire to construct, create, and impose order. The ship, in its making, is a potent symbol of hope, forward movement, and the overcoming of natural obstacles. It’s a testament to our collective memory, a symbol that continues to evolve and carry our aspirations.