Gezicht op Portofino vanuit de baai 1880 - 1917

This print presents a tranquil view of Portofino from its bay. The boats, gently floating, carry a weighty symbolism that stretches back through art history. Consider the boat: a vessel traversing the waters, it has long represented the journey of life or the soul's passage to the afterlife. Think of the ancient Egyptians, who equipped the deceased with boats for their voyage through the underworld. In Greek mythology, Charon ferried souls across the River Styx. And the Christian church is often symbolized as a ship guiding believers through the storms of life. Here, in Armanino's Portofino, these boats bobbing peacefully, evoke a sense of transition and potential, a reminder of our ceaseless navigation through time. This powerful symbol engages our subconscious, stirring deep-seated feelings about our own journey. The image of the boat, thus, is not just an object but a profound cultural artifact, resurfacing and evolving through the ages, carrying within it the hopes and fears of humanity.