Half Model of a Paddle Steamer c. 1837 - 1841

This half model of a paddle steamer, created by Rijkswerf Vlissingen, presents a vessel defined by its prominent paddle wheel. Consider the wheel itself - an ancient symbol of cyclical motion and fortune, prominently featured here as the very engine of progress. We can trace the wheel's ancestral line back to the Roman goddess Fortuna, who spun her wheel to dictate the capricious nature of fate. The very form of the paddle steamer, propelling itself with the rhythmic churning of its great wheel, echoes a primal human urge to master the unpredictable currents of life. One is reminded of the ceaseless turning of the Buddhist dharma wheel, a symbol of continuous spiritual awakening. Perhaps, subconsciously, the builders and viewers alike were drawn to the wheel as a symbol of power and a deep-seated desire to navigate the turbulent waters of existence. It engages viewers on a deep, subconscious level. This potent symbol has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in varied historical contexts.