['Natal-Near Maritzburg', 'Scene in a bush'] before 1880

These photographs, 'Natal-Near Maritzburg' and 'Scene in a bush' by Sam Alexander, capture landscapes laden with symbolic resonance. In the upper image, the tranquil body of water mirrors the sky, evoking the ancient symbol of the cosmic ocean, a motif found in creation myths across cultures, from the Babylonian Tiamat to the Egyptian Nun. Water, universally understood as the source of life, here reflects not only the heavens but also the potential for renewal and transformation. The lower photograph plunges us into the thicket of the bush. This dense vegetation echoes the 'horror vacui'—a filling of the entire surface of a space or artwork with details—seen in ancient art, embodying the fecundity and untamed aspects of nature. The forest has always been a place of psychological projection, a symbolic space representing our deepest fears and desires. Consider how the forest of fairy tales becomes a place of trial and self-discovery. These landscapes invite us to reflect on the non-linear journey of symbols, constantly reshaped by the human psyche across time.