Riviergezicht bij maanlicht 1849 - 1883

This is "River View by Moonlight," an etching by Egide François Leemans. Notice the tall masts of the ships silhouetted against the moonlit sky. The mast, as a symbol, stretches far back into human history, recalling not just navigation but our deep connection to exploration. Think of the ancient Egyptians, who placed masts on their funerary boats, symbolizing a journey to the afterlife. This same reaching towards the heavens appears again and again, from the towering spires of Gothic cathedrals to the reaching arms of figures in Renaissance paintings. Each time, the mast and spire remind us of mankind's longing to transcend earthly bounds. Here, the mast carries with it the emotional weight of our shared past, evoking a sense of yearning and the eternal human quest for something beyond the horizon. This image subtly stirs our collective memories. The masts in Leeman’s print are echoes of a timeless aspiration.