Sailboats at Fehmarn 

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner’s woodcut presents boats at sea, starkly rendered in black and white. The sails, dark triangles against a turbulent sky, evoke a sense of unease. The boat motif, laden with symbolism, frequently appears throughout history. Think of the ship as a metaphor for life’s journey or even the soul’s passage. We see it in ancient Egyptian funerary boats, transporting the deceased to the afterlife, or in Viking burials, where boats were the final resting place of warriors. The symbol transcends cultures. The sea itself is the subconscious, representing both the perils and the possibilities of our deepest selves. Here, Kirchner seems to tap into a collective memory, a primal fear, and respect for the vast unknown. The figures, isolated and adrift, become universal symbols of human vulnerability. The voyage is never-ending, a cyclical return to the depths. The boat motif persists, adapting through time, reminding us of our shared human condition and the endless journey of existence.