Schetsblad met roeiboot 1807 - 1858

This simple sketch of a rowboat was made by Utagawa Hiroshige, a 19th-century Japanese artist. Note the rhythmic lines of the water, contrasted with the sharp, angular strokes that define the boat and its oars. Throughout time, the boat has been a profound symbol of transition and passage. Consider its recurrence in ancient Egyptian funerary rites, where boats ferried souls to the afterlife. In Greek mythology, Charon rows the dead across the River Styx. Boats are a constant motif that evokes a powerful emotional response, tapping into our primal understanding of life as a journey. The image of the boat is imprinted on our collective memory. Hiroshige’s sketch brings forth a potent reminder of our shared human experience: the ceaseless voyage through life, an endless cycle of departures and arrivals.