Model of the Bow of an 84-Gun Ship of the Line 1822

This is a model of the bow of an 84-Gun Ship of the Line created by Rijkswerf Vlissingen. The model ship's structure is open, revealing the meticulous grid work of its skeletal frame. Light filters through the lattice, casting shadows that play across the warm wood. The ship is stripped of its outer layers, inviting us to consider its underlying structure. This piece embodies the spirit of the Enlightenment's analytical approach to understanding complex systems. By exposing the internal framework, the model shifts our focus from the ship’s function as a war machine to its anatomy as a feat of engineering. Each line and joint becomes a sign, pointing to the broader network of naval power, trade, and technological advancement. The ship's exposed frame also destabilizes our conventional understanding by making visible what is often concealed. This invites a dialogue about transparency, power, and the structures that shape our world.