Gezicht op de Ooster Oude Hoofdpoort te Rotterdam 1742 - 1801

Georg Balthasar Probst’s print captures Rotterdam’s Ooster Oude Hoofdpoort, teeming with the symbols of maritime activity and commerce. Note the flags atop the ships, each a small beacon, signaling not just national identity but also the complex dance of trade and power in this bustling port city. These flags are more than mere decoration; they are akin to the caduceus of Hermes, a symbol of negotiation, but here, they speak to the economic and political negotiations inherent in maritime trade. Think of how flags have appeared throughout history – from ancient Roman standards to the banners of medieval knights – always signifying allegiance and purpose. Even today, the waving flag can stir deep emotions. The collective memory tied to these symbols evokes the pride and perils of a life intertwined with the sea. This image pulls us into an awareness of history’s currents, always shifting, always carrying forward fragments of the past into our present consciousness.