Colombo van de reede der Compagnie gezien door C. Steiger 1890 - 1910

This drawing by Hübner & Van Santen Roeloffzen depicts Colombo as seen from the water. Notice the ships, symbols of trade, exploration, and the human desire to traverse the seas, evoking the maritime strength of the Dutch East India Company. The ship motif recurs throughout history, from ancient Egyptian barques carrying souls to the afterlife to Viking longships and the caravels of Columbus. Each epoch imbues this symbol with new layers of meaning tied to cultural ambitions and the quest for the unknown. Like moths to a flame, our collective psyche is drawn to the ocean's vastness, seeking expansion and discovery beyond established boundaries. Here, the ship represents more than transport. It is a vessel of collective dreams and anxieties, embodying the hope for prosperity and the fear of the uncharted. The symbol of the ship has been endlessly reinterpreted, mirroring our ever-evolving relationship with the world.