Havengezicht in Vlaanderen 1892

Albert Baertsoen created this etching, a view of a Flemish harbor, capturing a scene where water meets architecture in a dance of light and shadow. The reflections in the water echo the solid structures above, a mirroring motif that transcends mere visual appeal. Consider how water, throughout art history, has served as a symbol, not just for purity and life, but also for the subconscious. Here, the reflection acts as a doppelganger, a double that hints at hidden depths, a world beneath the surface. Think of Narcissus, entranced by his reflection, or Ophelia, claimed by the watery depths, her madness made visible. The architecture itself speaks of human endeavor, yet it is softened, almost dissolved, by the encroaching twilight. This interplay between the man-made and the natural invites us to contemplate our place within the cosmos, and perhaps even confront our own mortality. In this moment, Baertsoen’s harbor becomes a stage for the eternal drama of existence, capturing not just a place, but the very essence of being.