Schepen op kalm water 1769

John Greenwood rendered this wash drawing, "Ships on Calm Water," capturing vessels upon the sea. Dominating the scene is a sailing ship, its form harking back to a rich tradition where ships symbolize journeys, exploration, and the human spirit's courage against the vast unknown. Consider how, since antiquity, ships have appeared in various guises, from the Egyptian funerary boats meant to carry souls to the afterlife, to the Viking longboats signaling power and conquest. The vessel here is rendered with sails and rigging, each line and curve hinting at the complex interplay between human ingenuity and the forces of nature. The image evokes a sense of calm, yet underneath there lies the human experience. It speaks to how we project our hopes, fears, and ambitions onto symbols that have sailed through our collective consciousness. This symbol evolves, shifts, yet remains ever present, reminding us of our continuous dialogue with the sea and with the uncharted territories of our own selves.