Gezicht op een huis in de Karazee before 1886

This photograph by H. Ekama captures a dwelling in the Kara Sea, as part of the Dutch Polar Expedition between 1882 and 1883. The house, stark against the frozen landscape, evokes notions of shelter and survival in an inhospitable environment. The dwelling and the watchtower nearby remind me of similar structures depicted in early exploration narratives. These spaces carry echoes of mankind's eternal quest to conquer and map uncharted territories. One can think of ancient lighthouses as symbolic watchtowers. They guided seafarers and promised safe passage through the treacherous waters, embodying mankind's defiance against the unknown. Such a motif evolves. The stark, isolated nature of the building can be interpreted through a psychoanalytic lens, as a manifestation of the human psyche confronting its fears and anxieties. Collective memory imprints a sense of isolation, a feeling that continues to resonate as we confront the vastness of the world around us. The basic need for protection and orientation creates an emotional resonance, engaging viewers on a subconscious level. This resonates to the present day through dreams and the symbols we see in our daily life.