White Mountains, New Hampshire 

Albert Bierstadt painted these "White Mountains, New Hampshire," capturing a scene imbued with a sense of the sublime. Dominating the composition are the mountains themselves, symbols of permanence, strength, and spiritual aspiration. Mountains have long been associated with the divine, serving as places of refuge and revelation in various cultures. Consider the archetype of the mountain in ancient Greece, home to the gods, or Mount Sinai, where Moses received the Ten Commandments. The upward-reaching form of the mountains echoes the human desire for transcendence, a longing to bridge the earthly and the divine. This motif appears in various contexts throughout art history, from the vertical thrust of Gothic cathedrals to the Romantic landscapes of Caspar David Friedrich. Bierstadt's depiction taps into a deep-seated emotional response. The vastness and majesty of the landscape evoke a sense of awe, but also humility, reminding us of our place within the grand tapestry of nature. It is a powerful force engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level, illustrating the non-linear and cyclical progression of symbols, which resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.