Rivierlandschap met scheepswerf 1884

Theodor Hagen rendered this river landscape with a shipyard in etching. The boats, both sailing upon the water and upturned on the shore, evoke a deep connection to voyages, both literal and metaphorical. Since ancient times, the ship has symbolized the journey of life, the soul's passage through the sea of existence, a motif mirrored in various cultures. Think of the ship burials of the Vikings, preparing the dead for their final journey, or the barque of Ra sailing through the underworld in Egyptian mythology. Hagen here isn’t merely depicting boats, but continues a motif of transition and the unknown, engaging our collective subconscious. These vessels resonate with a timeless longing, a yearning for exploration and perhaps even escape, themes deeply embedded in the human psyche.