Huis bedekt met sneeuw before 1899

This is a black and white photograph by Alexis Mazourine, capturing a house blanketed in snow. The snow is the dominant symbol here, representing purity, stillness, and, perhaps, the slumber of nature. In many cultures, snow is seen as a symbol of transformation, of covering the old to make way for the new. It is akin to a purifying veil. Consider the recurring image of the 'white shroud' in art history, often used to depict death or mourning. Think of Mantegna's "Lamentation over the Dead Christ," where the shroud, much like the snow here, conceals and reveals at once. The snow, much like a shroud, hints at an underlying emotional state. It is a melancholic one of dormancy and expectation, engaging us on a subconscious level. The stillness it evokes is not just visual but deeply psychological, as the collective memory of winter and its associated feelings of longing are transmitted through the image. The cyclical nature of seasons mirrors our own lives, with each winter a reminder of the ever-repeating patterns of existence.