Koggeschip met wapen op het zeil 1871 - 1952

Curator: Well, this engraving, titled "Koggeschip met wapen op het zeil" roughly translated to "Cog Ship with arms on the sail" comes to us from Valentin le Campion and was created sometime between 1871 and 1952. The medium is listed as mixed media, with the techniques including printmaking, woodcut and engraving. It definitely carries a unique energy! Editor: Ah, yes, it feels incredibly deliberate and sort of serious. I can imagine the artist, or perhaps even the vessel, preparing to sail to distant, unknown and maybe even dangerous lands! I feel the spirit of early-modern naval power through this monochrome picture. It must have taken hours, no, DAYS of focused, unwavering attention to cut this from a wooden block! Curator: Absolutely. And the shading itself works with the interplay of light and shadow on the water to evoke a powerful, and potentially intimidating presence. The detail given to the patterns on the ship’s sail seem intended to evoke not just strength, but even cultural heritage or family lineage as something powerful in its own right. You notice how much is packed in to a single, simple ship! Editor: Indeed, the sails themselves have that emblazoned heraldry upon them. Look how this all combines. It almost becomes a symbol, you know, of trade and empire meeting head-on. Even the shape of the vessel cuts into the page like the blade of the sword cutting across the surface of a table. What a bold and intriguing image! Curator: Well, the “Koggeschip”, or "cog ship", had considerable weight, both literally and figuratively, at the time! As we see in this rendering by Valentin le Campion. And to reiterate, its construction using both engraving and woodcut printing techniques creates a fascinating combination of textures that make us look twice. It truly underscores your feeling of power—doesn't it? Editor: It certainly does. Every stroke seems imbued with history. Considering that heraldry, do you suppose the intention was to glorify the specific individuals who used the vessel in their voyages of exploration, commerce or war, perhaps all three at once? I can certainly see that! Curator: Likely it's the idea of glory in itself that takes hold. Looking at its patterns, I find it so interesting how this koggeship evokes pride, ambition, and the allure of unexplored worlds, with a somewhat threatening aspect mixed in. Le Campion did capture much in such a small artwork. Editor: That’s what I think as well. And I must add how much the work speaks of time. So next time you encounter an image like this, listeners, try to contemplate where its symbolism comes from and what those hidden symbols might really mean. It makes all the difference in understanding how history lives on within the picture itself!