The port of Antwerp during Scheldetor 1520

In 1520, Albrecht Dürer captured the port of Antwerp during Scheldetor with delicate strokes of pen on paper. The bustling harbor, dominated by ships with towering masts, presents us with potent symbols of commerce and exploration. Consider the mast, a vertical axis piercing the sky. Throughout history, verticality has represented aspiration, connection to the divine, and the journey between earthly and celestial realms. Think of the Egyptian obelisks, medieval cathedral spires, or even the simple maypole—all echoing this primal urge to reach beyond our immediate world. Here, the masts are multiplied, representing the collective ambition of a city reaching towards new horizons, fueled by trade and the promise of discovery. This image evokes a collective memory—the psychoanalytic concept of shared, often unconscious, knowledge and experiences. It engages us on a subconscious level, reminding us of humanity's ceaseless quest for progress and expansion, which resonates through history in a cyclical, non-linear way, evolving with each era, yet always returning to these fundamental symbols.