Upper Falls of the Yellowstone 

Thomas Moran painted this watercolor of the Upper Falls of the Yellowstone in 1873. The cascading water, a recurring symbol in art, often represents the relentless flow of time and the transformative power of nature. Consider, for instance, the ancient Greek myths of rivers as gods, like Oceanus, embodying the world's constant flux. Waterfalls also appear in Chinese landscape paintings as symbols of purity and renewal, linking the earthly and spiritual realms. In Moran's rendering, the waterfall is not merely a visual spectacle but a visceral experience, engaging our subconscious understanding of nature's power. This motif echoes across cultures, reminding us of the cyclical nature of existence and the eternal dance between creation and destruction. Such representations tap into a collective memory, evoking deep emotional responses tied to our primal connection with the natural world.