Model of part of a floating dock 1863 - 1864

This is a model of a floating dock made by Koninklijke Fabriek P. van Vlissingen & Dudok van Heel. The framework of this dock is immediately striking, an iron skeleton built to hold the water. Consider the ladder motif ascending the structure. The ladder symbolizes ascent, progress, and connection between different realms. We see it in ancient Egyptian art as a symbol of spiritual ascent, and in Jacob's Ladder in the Old Testament, connecting Earth and Heaven. The ladder is not simply a practical tool; it embodies a deep-seated human aspiration. Its presence here brings forth a complex interplay of function and symbolism. Think of the Tower of Babel, the ladders are forever reaching, as the human spirit always strives towards something beyond itself. The gridded structure may evoke feelings of order and control, yet the implications of containment and confinement are also present, touching upon the delicate balance between progress and the inherent limitations of the human condition.