Twee afgemeerde zeilschepen 1797 - 1838

This delicate sketch by Johannes Christiaan Schotel captures two moored sailing ships, their forms rendered with the precision of a mariner’s eye. The ship, throughout history, has been a potent symbol—of journey, exploration, and the human spirit's quest for the unknown. Consider how the ship motif has sailed through time, from ancient Egyptian funerary boats meant to carry souls to the afterlife, to the Viking longboats, symbols of power and conquest. This vessel echoes in the dreams of those who yearn for what lies beyond the horizon. The ship as a symbol of hope and passage reappears across cultures, evolving yet retaining its primal connection to our deepest desires for exploration and transformation, an image that continues to stir the collective unconscious.