De overwintering op Nova-Zembla 1875 - 1903

This is "De overwintering op Nova-Zembla" by Jan de Haan, a print composed of eight scenes. Immediately, we see a visual construction using a grid that structures the narrative. The colour palette is muted, dominated by icy blues and browns, reflecting the harsh Arctic conditions, yet each scene is rendered with clear lines and distinct forms. The composition invites us to read across and down, the story unfolding chronologically. Each vignette, framed within the larger grid, acts as a signifier. De Haan uses a simple semiotic system here: the ship consistently represents navigation, the hut signifies shelter, while the bears embody the dangers of the natural world. The linear progression challenges fixed notions of time. The visual organisation asks us to consider how sequential events contribute to a larger, cohesive narrative about exploration and survival. Ultimately, De Haan’s use of structure emphasizes the human drive to impose order onto chaos. The grid becomes a symbolic attempt to control the uncontrollable, mirroring the explorers' struggle against the Arctic wilderness.