Crab Inn, Shanklin, Isle of Wight before 1899

This Woodburytype photogravure depicts the Crab Inn in Shanklin, Isle of Wight. The inn, nestled amongst trees, projects an image of rustic English charm. The crab, of course, is the key symbol. It represents the natural world of the island. Consider the crab in the broader sweep of art history: from its symbolic appearance in ancient zodiacs, representing the astrological sign of Cancer, to its association with the depths of the sea and the subconscious. Across cultures, crustaceans appear in different ways. Sometimes symbols of protection, other times, symbols of vulnerability due to their soft underbellies. Perhaps the image of a crab as the namesake of a humble inn is meant to evoke a sense of the familiar, and the comfort we seek in the depths of our cultural memories. The building offers a safe harbor, a symbolic shell protecting against the vast unknown. In essence, this image is a reminder of how deeply intertwined we are with the symbols of nature. These symbols shape our emotional responses and how such images resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings throughout time.