Open veerschuit 1609 - 1686

Dirk Eversen Lons created this etching, "Open veerschuit," sometime in the 17th century. The composition immediately draws your eye to the boat, centered and encapsulated within an oval frame. Note how the artist's use of line and space divides the scene. Above, there is a clear sky punctuated by a few birds. Below, waves form regular lines and lead to the image of the passengers. The boat itself is a study in horizontal lines, from the seats to the figures that are aligned and anonymous. The passengers are exposed to the elements. This vulnerability is emphasized by the text below, noting the presence of both wind and rain. Consider how the image uses a structural contrast between containment and exposure. The frame suggests a degree of safety, yet the passengers remain unprotected within the depicted scene. The interplay serves to destabilize any fixed meaning we might project onto images of travel and shelter.