Portret van een matroos van de Koninklijk Marine, staand naast een reddingsboei met opschrift 'Hr. Ms. Neptunus' c. 1916 - 1922

Willem Cornelis Boelsums captured this image of a Royal Navy sailor sometime in the early 20th century. Note how the sailor stands beside a lifebuoy, marked with the ship's name: "Hr. Ms. Neptunus." Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, is a motif that plunges us into the depths of cultural memory. From ancient mosaics depicting Neptune in his maritime kingdom to Renaissance sculptures evoking his commanding presence, the god of the sea has long symbolized power over the unpredictable waters, and manifests itself here as a symbol of safety. Consider, too, the sailor's uniform, a symbol of maritime identity, harking back to a time when the sea was both a source of livelihood and a realm of great peril. The lifebuoy is more than a safety device. It embodies hope, a promise of rescue amidst the chaos of the sea. Images like this draw upon the collective memory of maritime adventures, evoking a sense of both adventure and the inherent risks of naval life.