Voorsteven en boegbeeld van een zeilschip 1800 - 1801

Joseph Coiny created this print of a ship's prow in the late 18th or early 19th century. The formidable lion figurehead dominates the ship’s front. The lion, with its wide eyes and roaring mouth, served as a guardian and a symbol of courage and power. Consider the ancient Greek Gorgon, Medusa, whose image was placed on shields to ward off enemies. We see a similar impulse here: to instill fear and assert dominance. The lion's roar transcends mere decoration; it embodies the raw power of the ship and the nation it represents. Even the cannon above the lion’s head is an expression of strength and martial prowess. The image of the lion, a recurring motif throughout history, reminds us of our primal instincts and the psychological strategies we employ to confront the unknown, serving as a potent reminder of the enduring power of symbols in our collective consciousness.