Jetty 1994

Peter Doig’s ‘Jetty’ presents us with a scene imbued with a dreamlike quality, where a lone figure stands at the edge of a pier, gazing out towards a distant boat. The jetty itself, acting as a bridge between the known and the unknown, evokes a sense of transition. This liminal space reminds us of similar thresholds in art across cultures. Think of Charon ferrying souls across the River Styx in ancient Greek mythology, or even Caspar David Friedrich’s wanderers contemplating nature's vastness. Here, Doig invokes not only physical but also psychological space. The recurring motif of solitary figures at water's edge invites introspection. The symbolism of water is potent: it is both life-giving and a symbol of the subconscious. The scene becomes charged with a sense of longing, a yearning for what lies beyond. The jetty becomes a stage for the theater of our minds, resonating with the timeless human quest for meaning.