Ships in a Rough Sea c. 17th century

Editor: This drawing, "Ships in a Rough Sea," attributed to Matthijs van Plattenberg, depicts a rather turbulent scene, doesn't it? I'm struck by the almost ethereal quality of the washes. How do you interpret the symbolism at play here? Curator: The sea, throughout history, has often symbolized chaos, the unconscious, or the overwhelming power of nature. Notice how the human figure seems almost subsumed by the wave. Could it represent a spiritual crisis, or perhaps a confrontation with mortality? The ships in the background, barely visible, remind us of human ambition dwarfed by nature's forces. Editor: That's fascinating. I hadn't considered the individual figure as representing humanity's struggle against the elements. Curator: Or perhaps it's about the individual's internal struggle, mirrored by the external storm. The artist is using familiar images to convey profound experiences. Editor: I see the piece in a new light now, thinking about inner turmoil reflected in the natural world. Curator: Exactly, art allows us to see the world, and ourselves, through a symbolic lens.