Half Model of a 6-Gun Schooner-Brig c. 1844 - 1846

This is a half model of a 6-Gun Schooner-Brig created by Rijkswerf Rotterdam. The sculpture presents a vessel bisected along its longitudinal axis, mounted on a board. The upper hull is dark, while the submerged part is a lighter hue, divided by a precise line. The division creates a striking contrast that invites contemplation on what is visible versus what is hidden. The waterline, where the two colors meet, symbolizes a threshold, a boundary between worlds. This recalls structuralist ideas of binary oppositions, where meaning is created through contrast. The ship itself represents a signifier of exploration and power. The division of the ship can be interpreted through semiotics as a symbol for transitional space, which exists between fixed categories, and suggests a deconstruction of maritime power, leaving viewers to contemplate the relationship between progress, exploration, and control.