Geschiedenis van een kleinen scheepsjongen 1894 - 1959

Here we see Gordinne's sequential illustration, "Geschiedenis van een kleinen scheepsjongen", a work that presents us with a visual narrative, brimming with symbols that echo across time and culture. Observe the constant presence of the ship, initially a vessel of exploration and commerce, and then a symbol of peril. This vessel reminds us of the classical ship of fools, a metaphor for humanity adrift, steering towards uncertainty, reminiscent of the allegorical ships in Bosch's paintings. Consider how the ship motif surfaces again and again, in different guises, from the Argonauts' quest for the Golden Fleece to the Flying Dutchman's eternal wandering. Note the transformation of the Indigenous people from potential adversaries to figures of supplication. This mirrors the ever-shifting perception of the 'other' in the collective psyche, a projection of our fears and desires onto the unknown. Such transformations, seen across history and cultural narratives, engage our subconscious, evoking primal emotional responses and challenging our understanding of identity and difference. This visual tale is not merely linear, it circles back, constantly reshaped by the currents of history and the ever-changing tides of human understanding.