Paalwerk aan zee 1889 - 1902

Carel Nicolaas Storm van 's-Gravesande made this etching, titled 'Piling at Sea', capturing a scene of wooden posts at the water's edge. The piling suggests a barrier, a boundary between land and sea, order and chaos. The motif of a fence or barrier echoes through art history, from the garden walls in medieval tapestries symbolizing paradise, to the fortifications in war scenes denoting protection. Yet, here, the barrier seems fragile. Its rough, weathered texture speaks of time and the relentless power of the sea. Consider the psychological weight of such a boundary. Is it an invitation or a rejection? This liminal space evokes a sense of longing and the transience of human efforts against the backdrop of nature's vastness. The boundary between what we know and what we do not. The cyclical nature of this symbol resurfaces throughout history. The palings, a structure meant to defend, become symbols of the ephemeral nature of human endeavor, inviting reflection on the emotional and psychological forces at play in our perception of boundaries.