Berken before 1900

This photographic print, titled "Berken," captures a row of birch trees. The birch, with its distinctive white bark, has long been a symbol of purity, renewal, and new beginnings across cultures. The verticality of the birch trees echoes ancient symbols of the world tree, connecting the earth to the heavens. Consider the use of trees in classical antiquity, such as in depictions of Daphne turning into a tree to escape Apollo, or myths where trees were thought to have spirits. Across time the symbolism of the tree is seen as the essence of life, growth, and transformation. The way these trees stretch upwards is an expression of humanity’s eternal yearning to connect with something greater. Just as the ancient Greeks projected their desires and fears onto their gods, we continue to find in nature reflections of our inner emotional landscapes. The "Berken" is a powerful reminder of how nature acts as a mirror, reflecting humanity's collective memory and subconscious. This echoes through history, appearing and reappearing in various guises.