n. 842 Stultifera navis, the shipof fools

This copperplate engraving is inspired by the work of Sebastien Brant (Das Narrenschiff, edition published in Basel in 1494 with illustrations by Albrecht  Dürer). In his work, the author describes the surreal voyage of a ship and a crew behaving in a senseless manner. This sumptuous engraving, which required many months of work, is not a satirical allegory but a metaphor for humanity on the move. The appearance of this vessel coming towards us is surprising. Doesn't its curious construction strike you? With those oars that make it resemble an insect, the old galley draws us into a stupefying and indefinable atmosphere. What is it doing in the cosmic void where it seems to float weightlessly? Is it a daring voyage through the darkness of space or a hopeless wandering? Who are these characters with such singular expressions? Are they delusional, utterly mad, or idiots? At the top of this pyramidal composition, an imposing statue emerges on a pedestal. Will it represent Reason? What a tragic role... Veiled, it cannot determine the position or guide the navigation. Will it represent lost Faith, an idol or a patron saint abandoned by the faithful? Or perhaps the image of blind Love? Love is a rebellious bird that pushes its followers to leap from one obstacle to another... The questions remain unanswered because the engraver does not appeal to the language of intelligence but to the sensitivity of thought. The effects are impressive, yet this harmony of tones and contrasts is not merely a visual pleasure. The fruit of creative labor, the copper releases onto the paper questions, doubts, and, when joy creeps in, profound emotions. The Ship of Fools gathers a crowd of men on an imaginary voyage. Through engraving, we too are drawn into an “other” world, closer, in a certain way, to the spirit. Is it a path to salvation or an attempt to escape human misery?