Uri-See c. 1851 - 1924

Carel Nicolaas Storm van 's-Gravesande captured this image of Uri-See in watercolor. Notice how the landscape is dominated by the mountains and the lake, shrouded in a subdued, almost melancholic light. The mountain, throughout history, is a symbol that transcends cultures, embodying steadfastness and spiritual ascent, but also isolation. Think of Mount Olympus, the home of the gods in Greek mythology, or the mountains in Chinese landscape paintings, representing a retreat from the mundane world. Here, the mountains meet the water, a union that suggests the confluence of opposing forces. Water, in its fluidity, often symbolizes the unconscious and the emotions, mirroring the depths of our inner selves. The somber tones evoke a sense of introspection, perhaps even a confrontation with the sublime. Consider how such elemental images persist, evolving yet retaining their primal power to stir the soul across the ages. These are not mere landscapes, but echoes of our collective psyche.