View of the Seine in the Direction of the Pont de Bezons 1892

Gustave Caillebotte painted "View of the Seine in the Direction of the Pont de Bezons" with oil on canvas. The river, a dominant symbol, is a classic image, flowing through art history, representing life's ceaseless journey. In antiquity, rivers were sacred, often depicted as gods, like the Nile ensuring Egypt's fertility. Water motifs are a subconscious link to our origins, stirring deep-seated feelings of renewal, but also, chaos and the unknown. Consider how water is used in baptism, a ritual of purification and rebirth, and consider the mythological river Styx, which served as a border between life and death. These images resonate with our shared past, a collective memory passed down, shaping our emotional responses. We see a never-ending cycle, mirroring our own lives as the river flows, ever-changing yet eternally the same.