Stuurman en zijn vrouw 1641

This engraving by Crispijn van de Passe the Younger, likely from the early 17th century, presents us with potent symbols of maritime life and its attendant anxieties. On the left, we see a ship’s pilot with an hourglass and a compass rose, tools emblematic of navigation and the relentless passage of time. Consider how the hourglass—a symbol of fleeting existence—appears throughout history. From ancient Roman sarcophagi to medieval memento mori, it reminds us of life's ephemerality. Here, it speaks to the mariner’s constant awareness of time, tide, and the precariousness of his journey. The separation of husband and wife, necessitated by seafaring, evokes an emotional and psychological tension. The wife, receiving gifts, represents the anxieties surrounding fidelity and the disruption of domestic life. The symbols of time and navigation are thus intertwined with human emotions, reflecting how our understanding of time and space is deeply embedded in the human condition. This engraving then is a poignant reflection on the human drama played out against the backdrop of the sea.