Model of Part of the Timbering of the Dry Dock at Flushing c. 1837

This is a model of the timbering of the dry dock at Flushing, made by Rijkswerf Vlissingen. Note the underlying structure of the wood frame, a motif that echoes throughout history. Consider the ancient Roman aqueducts, feats of engineering that also relied on structural frameworks to span great distances, or even the Gothic cathedrals, whose ribbed vaults and flying buttresses bear a striking resemblance to the skeletal framework we see here. These are all testaments to human ingenuity, but, more profoundly, point to our innate, deep-seated need to create order and stability. This impulse manifests itself in the dry dock as in monumental architecture, showcasing our capacity for reasoned structure, for imposing control. These frameworks are more than just supports; they are emblems of human ambition, testaments of our psychological urge to master the elements and leave a lasting mark. A framework of symbolic significance that continually re-emerges.