Hooischip 1761 - 1779

Hendrik Kobell etched this image of a hay boat, or 'Hooischip,' sometime in the 1770s. The boat, laden with hay, immediately speaks to cycles of sustenance, survival, and industry. But let us look closer. The boat, here, transcends mere utility, becoming a vessel laden with cultural memory. Ships have long been symbolic of journeys – both physical and spiritual. Think of the ship as Charon’s boat, ferrying souls across the River Styx. Even the humble hay has its own resonance; it’s a symbol of harvest and bounty, linked to ancient fertility rites. Through time it reappears during the celebration of Lammas, which evolved from the pagan festival of Lughnasadh, commemorating the beginning of the harvest season. The image, therefore, triggers a deep, subconscious understanding of our connection to the land and to the seasons. Like a recurring dream, these symbols resurface, reminding us of our past and shaping our collective psyche.