Rübeland, gezien vanuit het zuidwesten 1868 - 1890

This stereo photograph by Hermann Selle captures Rübeland from the southwest. Notice how the village nestles at the base of the cliffs, evoking a sense of shelter and the protective embrace of nature. This motif is deeply rooted in our collective memory, echoing in countless depictions across various cultures, from the sacred groves of ancient Greece to the fortified towns of the Middle Ages. Consider the imagery of the enclosed garden, the *hortus conclusus*, a symbol of safety and purity, often associated with the Virgin Mary in religious art. This photograph invites us to contemplate how the arrangement of landscape and architecture can tap into primal emotions, evoking a sense of security and belonging. The way the structures huddle together suggests a communal spirit, a shared destiny against the backdrop of formidable nature. This imagery subtly conveys the idea of cyclical return, of human life embedded within the eternal rhythms of the natural world.