Vaartuig, Zuidoost-Molukken 1824

Adrianus Johannes Bik sketched this scene from the Southeast Moluccas with pen in the early 19th century. The image teems with figures surrounding a boat, its mast reaching towards the sky, a potent symbol in cultures across the world. This mast, soaring upwards, recalls the ancient obelisks of Egypt and the sacred trees of Germanic tribes. It is a visual echo of the axis mundi, the world's center. This symbol connects the earthly and the divine, as the figures in the image sit at the bottom, and the mast rises to the sky. Think of the maypoles of Europe, around which communities dance in a celebration of fertility and renewal. Over time, while the specific rituals may evolve, the underlying psychological need to connect with nature and the cosmos remains, a testament to our shared human experience.