Vrouwe die de vrije schepen...... 1938 - 1939

This unknown work is a print that frames a portrait of a regal woman amongst sailing ships. The making of this piece, I imagine, was really about constructing a layered image, a collage of sorts. The artist, Samson NV, likely started with the central portrait, then carefully arranged the ships around it, like placing characters on a stage. There's a kind of folk-art quality to the way everything is rendered – a flatness, a directness. The ships are not just ships; they're symbols. Each tiny detail and ornamental flourish carries meaning. I think of other artists who use symbols and icons – it reminds me a little of Joseph Cornell's boxes, where everyday objects become part of a larger, more mysterious story. Ultimately, art's about communication, sharing stories across time. Each artist responds to what came before, adding their own layer to the conversation. It's not about definitive statements but embracing the open-endedness of interpretation.