Passagier in uniform op een ligbed aan boord van de Hohenzollern 1889

This sepia photograph by Paul Güssfeldt captures a uniformed passenger reclining on the deck of the Hohenzollern. The ship, named after the royal house of Prussia, suggests power and status. Yet, here, on the open deck, exposed to the elements, is a man in repose, almost vulnerable. Consider the symbolism of a ship: traditionally, it represents a journey, a quest, or the passage through life. The seated figure, swathed in a blanket, evokes images of ancient mariners or even mythological figures like Charon, ferrying souls across the river Styx. This symbol of repose, of temporary stasis amidst the voyage of life, connects to representations of figures like the reclining Buddha or the sleeping Ariadne. The contrast between the ship's purpose - to propel forward, towards new horizons - and the passenger's inactivity creates a compelling emotional tension. This tension, a kind of visual unrest, pulls the viewer into the dreamlike state of the photograph. It reminds us that progress is a process, cyclical, with moments of rest and reflection necessary for the journey ahead.