Het schip c. 1843 - 1920

Karl Christian Koehler created “Het Schip,” a captivating exploration of maritime life, using unknown medium. It's a series of images evoking both adventure and peril. The ship, a potent symbol across cultures, embodies themes of journey, discovery, and the human spirit’s battle against the unknown. We see the ship in various stages – from construction to sailing, and even battling stormy seas, and succumbing to the elements. Think of the ancient Egyptian barques carrying souls to the afterlife, or the Viking longships, symbols of conquest. The motif of a ship lost at sea echoes through time, representing vulnerability and the transience of human endeavors. This image, full of dramatic turmoil, taps into our collective memory of the sea's unpredictable nature. The tumultuous waves speak to the subconscious fears of being overwhelmed, a primal anxiety present throughout human history. Yet, even in these scenes of distress, there is a compelling beauty, a reminder of the cyclical nature of destruction and renewal. The ship, broken but not defeated, symbolizes resilience and a constant return.