In een platte boot op het meer dobberen / Fan Ch'un-jen van de Sung-dynastie wiens meerderjarigheidsnaam Yao-t'ien luidt 1702

This line drawing by Pieter Schenk depicts scenes from Fan Ch'un-jen's life, capturing moments of leisure and scholarly activity. The boat on the lake, a powerful symbol, speaks to a deeper longing for tranquility and escape from earthly concerns. Consider how boats have served as potent symbols across cultures and ages, appearing in Egyptian funerary rites, Greek mythology with Charon ferrying souls, and Viking burials. These vessels transcend mere transport; they are vehicles for transformation. The very act of floating suggests a freedom from gravity, reflecting our collective desire to transcend the material world. The presence of the boat invites us to reflect on our own journeys, both literal and metaphorical. It triggers our collective memory, subtly reminding us of the impermanence of life and the need to find peace amidst the endless flux. This image, light as it appears, pulls us into profound depths.