Houten plank van een schip van de Oost-Indische Compagnie met zeewormen 1778

This image depicts a wooden plank from a ship of the Dutch East India Company, riddled with holes made by shipworms. The plank, likely oak or a similar dense wood, bears witness to the relentless labor of these marine borers. Look closely, and you'll notice the circular patterns around each hole, indicating the worm's entry point. The process involves the shipworm using its rasping shells to burrow into the wood, creating tunnels that weaken the structure. This was a constant challenge for seafaring nations, influencing ship design and maintenance. The Dutch East India Company, a powerful engine of global trade, relied on these vessels. The labor of shipwrights in selecting, curing, and assembling these planks was immense, yet nature's persistent forces could undo it all. This seemingly simple object embodies the intersection of human enterprise, the natural world, and the constant negotiation between creation and destruction. It reminds us that even the grandest ventures are vulnerable to the smallest of agents.