Loostrens van Paradise 1891

Gomez Burke’s photograph, "Loostrens van Paradise," presents us with a placid canal, reflecting an idyllic vision of nature. The symmetry, the gentle mirroring of trees in water – this is a familiar motif, harking back to ancient notions of Eden, a paradise reflected in earthly form. We see the canal, a symbol of life's flow, yet also a constructed path, a human intervention in the natural world. Consider the rivers in countless mythologies, from the Nile to the Styx, each embodying journeys, transitions, and the relentless passage of time. Water, after all, is both life-giving and destructive, a constant flux between creation and dissolution. In our collective memory, water holds this duality, mirroring our deepest fears and hopes. Is this photograph a mere depiction of a landscape, or does it tap into our subconscious longing for a return to an unspoiled, mythical past? This dream of paradise is not linear, it resurfaces, evolves, takes on new meanings.