Gezicht op een rivier te Japan before 1892

This small photograph by William Kinnimond Burton captures a river scene in Japan, likely taken from the pages of a book. A lone tree, its branches reaching out like grasping fingers, stands prominently against the backdrop of water and distant foliage. Consider the tree, a symbol deeply embedded in the human psyche. Throughout history, across cultures, the tree represents life, growth, and connection between earth and sky. Yet, here, the bare branches evoke a sense of melancholy, a yearning. The image evokes a Japanese aesthetic, suggesting a Zen-like contemplation of nature. It reminds me of the symbolist painters like Arnold Böcklin, or Caspar David Friedrich, in which nature serves as a reflection of inner emotional states. Observe how this symbol, as old as humanity, resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings, engaging us on a deep, subconscious level.