Schepen in de haven van Hamburg 1851 - 1902

Carel Nicolaas Storm van 's-Gravesande etched these ships in the port of Hamburg sometime in the late 19th century. The image is dominated by the imposing presence of ships, symbols of commerce, exploration, and human connection across vast waters. Consider the ship's mast. Since antiquity, it has been linked to the ancient symbol of the tree. We find the tree as the axis mundi, the cosmic pillar connecting the earthly and the divine. The mast, like the tree, reaches towards the heavens, embodying aspirations and serving as a conduit between different realms. Looking at the image, we can almost feel the psychological weight of departure and arrival, the anticipation of journeys, and the melancholy of farewells. Throughout history, ships have carried not just cargo, but also dreams, fears, and the collective unconscious of humanity. Just like in ancient times, the ship sails on, carrying forward the eternal drama of human existence.