Het vertrek van het eiland, 1597 1615 - 1617

This print, made in 1597 by an anonymous artist, captures a scene of departure with boats sailing away from an island. Ships, for centuries, have symbolized journeys, transitions, and the fraught relationship between humanity and the unpredictable forces of nature. Consider, for instance, the ancient Egyptian "Ship of the Sun," conveying the soul through the underworld, or the Greek myths of voyages across perilous seas. Here, the vessels, crowded with figures, evoke both hope and uncertainty. The sea, often a metaphor for the subconscious, churns with hidden depths, echoing the psychological turmoil of leaving behind familiar shores. This imagery resurfaces throughout art history, from Romantic painters grappling with the sublime to modern artists exploring themes of displacement and migration. The ship, as a vessel of cultural memory, continues to navigate the collective psyche, carrying the weight of shared human experiences across time.