A seated white sailor and a standing black sailor, people building a ship in the background, a circular composition 1655 - 1665

This etching, by Stefano della Bella, presents a scene of labor and repose, where a ship is being built against the vast horizon. At the foreground a seated white sailor and a standing black sailor are presented in a study of contrasts, highlighting a social dynamic of labor. The ship becomes a powerful symbol, evoking images of adventure, trade, and conquest, mirroring humanity's relentless drive to explore and dominate. Notice how the repetition of circular forms, from the composition itself to the coils of rope, creates a sense of enclosure, underscoring the cyclical nature of human endeavor. Such imagery echoes motifs found in ancient maps and cosmologies, where the circle symbolizes the world. It reappears across cultures, from the Ouroboros serpent biting its tail to Renaissance allegories of Fortune's wheel. The ship, the circle, and the contrast of the sailors remind us that history is not linear, but returns in different guises, shaping our collective psyche.