Gezicht op de Lagune van Venetië met dukdalf 1889 - 1902

Carel Nicolaas Storm van 's-Gravesande rendered this view of the Venetian Lagoon with dukdalf using etching. The weathered timber post in the foreground, a mooring post known as a 'dukdalf', stands as a sentinel. Consider this post, a symbol of both connection and isolation. Historically, posts have appeared as boundary markers, silent witnesses to the ebb and flow of human activity. Think of ancient boundary stones or even the totems of indigenous cultures. Over time, these markers evolved from simple practicality to imbued symbolic meaning. In our collective memory, such posts tap into deep psychoanalytic themes—they are the 'axis mundi', a connection between the earthly and the divine. The dukdalf becomes a focal point, engaging viewers subconsciously, evoking feelings of stability amidst the fluid lagoon. Observe the cyclical nature of its symbolism. The dukdalf, rooted in Venetian waters, echoes across history, resurfacing in various forms, its essence adapted and renewed, constantly shifting in meaning yet eternally present.