Vermoedelijk twee fotoreproducties van tekeningen van een nevel of een gaswolk in het heelal before 1866

These photographic reproductions of nebulae drawings capture the swirling forms of distant celestial bodies. The spiral structure, so evident in the first image, is an ancient symbol – a cosmic echo of the labyrinth, a recurring motif across cultures from Minoan Crete to the American Southwest. This spiral, this helix, reminds us of the cyclical nature of existence, of the constant return and renewal found in nature and human consciousness. Consider the serpent, an emblem of eternity, shedding its skin in an endless cycle of death and rebirth. The spiral, too, encapsulates this idea, drawing us inward towards a center before expanding outward again. The fascination with these cosmic forms touches a deep, subconscious level. Just as the ancients projected their fears and aspirations onto the stars, we, too, see reflections of our inner selves in these nebulae. They are not merely astronomical phenomena but powerful symbols that engage our emotions and stir our collective memory. This symbol resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different historical contexts.