Honfleur Le Vieux, "Leurs Ports" 1912

Editor: So this is Fernand Combes's "Honfleur Le Vieux, 'Leurs Ports'," created in 1912. It’s a charcoal drawing, and I’m struck by the sort of hazy, dreamlike quality it has. What catches your eye about this particular artwork? Curator: The recurring motif of the boat, specifically, it has resonated through centuries as a symbol of journeys, transitions, and even the soul's passage. Notice how the sails are prominently displayed. Editor: They almost feel like they’re reaching upward. Curator: Precisely! Sails have often symbolized ambition, aspirations, and even the divine breath or inspiration filling one's life. In what other ways does it resonate with our shared understanding of human experience and history? Editor: I guess the boats feel like they're cramped, and maybe suggest that life in that time wasn't always very spacious or free. Curator: It could well symbolize the burdens and constraints within society and perhaps the desire to escape them. What kind of stories do you imagine when you observe this? Editor: I’m not sure, perhaps stories about hard work and adventure in a difficult environment. It makes me think about how so much of our world's economy used to be water-based, as opposed to today when air or land travel is so important. Curator: It beautifully portrays an early mode of industry while conveying a personal relationship. It reminds us how images act as time capsules, evoking our memories and connections through time. Thanks to the cultural understanding the symbols provoke! Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. This little trip through history helped see new perspectives on Combes.