Fishing boat between two rocks on the beach of the Baltic Sea 1830

This painting by Caspar David Friedrich captures a fishing boat amidst the imposing rocks of the Baltic Sea. The rocks are not just geological features, but silent witnesses, emblems of endurance, and the sublime. Consider the recurring motif of the ship, a vessel navigating the waters between two worlds. Ships appear as symbols of transition, life’s journey, and even the passage to the afterlife. The boat as a 'ship of souls' is deeply embedded in our collective memory. The voyage through life is fraught with peril, yet the human spirit, represented by the figures on the shore, persists. Think back to ancient Egyptian funerary boats, carrying souls across the Nile to the afterlife. The journey is cyclical. The symbols in Friedrich’s painting have resurfaced across history, each time evolving, yet still echoing a profound understanding of humanity's place within the cosmos.