Der vad'ren deugd en kloek bestaan / Toont deze prent ons duidelyk aan / Doch mogten we op hun voorbeeld letten, / En in hun spoor de voeten zetten 1848 - 1881

This print, made by Lutkie & Cranenburg, presents a series of vignettes illustrating Dutch virtues and historical moments. Note the recurring motif of ships, symbols of maritime prowess and exploration. These vessels, bravely navigating treacherous waters, are echoes of the ships found on ancient Greek pottery or Roman mosaics. The ship is a potent symbol in human history, representing both adventure and the perilous unknown, a mirror reflecting our deepest fears and aspirations. Consider how the act of navigation, steering through uncertainty, mirrors the psychological journey of self-discovery. This theme persists across time, surfacing, for example, in Renaissance maps and even modern-day advertisements, each instance a ripple in the vast ocean of cultural memory. The ship, therefore, is not merely a mode of transport but an enduring testament to the human spirit's relentless quest for meaning.