Loaded down with snow 1870s - 1880s

This stereoscopic card, "Loaded down with snow," was made by Henry Hamilton Bennett in Kilbourn City, Wisconsin. The laden branches, heavy with snow, evoke a sense of winter's powerful embrace. Consider the symbolism of the burdened tree. It is a motif that resurfaces throughout history: think of Atlas, or the Hesperides tree of Greek mythology. Similarly, we find the image of the inverted tree across cultures, often associated with an entrance to the underworld, like in Nordic Yggdrasil. This symbol speaks to the burdens we carry, yet also to the resilience and strength found in nature's capacity to endure. The enduring power of such images lies in their ability to tap into our collective memory, engaging viewers on a subconscious level. They represent the cyclical nature of life and the continuous evolution of symbols.