Under the Snow 1870s - 1880s

This stereograph, "Under the Snow," was produced by Henry Hamilton Bennett, capturing a Wisconsin winter scene. The image contains figures of men, one leading a bear through a cavernous landscape of ice and snow. The figure with the bear echoes motifs seen in ancient mythologies – the animal guide, the wild companion. We see reflections of this pairing in figures like Artemis with her sacred animals. Across cultures, bears themselves can be found as symbols of strength, courage, and untamed nature. Consider the cave, a recurring symbol of the unconscious and the unknown, a place of initiation and rebirth. In ancient mystery cults, initiates would descend into caves to confront their deepest fears and emerge transformed. The men moving through this icy underworld, accompanied by the bear, suggest a journey into the depths of the self, a confronting of nature, both external and internal. Such imagery evokes a powerful psychological response, tapping into primal fears and desires, a reminder of the delicate balance between humanity and the wild.