Zonsondergang op de Schelde before 1898

This photograph, "Zonsondergang op de Schelde" by A.J. Kymeulen, captures a sunset on the Schelde. The water, reflecting the fading light, is a dominant motif, evoking the river of life. The setting sun has been seen across different times and places to embody the theme of mortality and cyclical renewal. In ancient Egyptian art, the sun god Ra journeyed through the underworld each night, only to be reborn each morning, symbolizing resurrection. The setting sun has acquired a powerful psychological resonance. Its image engages our subconscious feelings of loss, melancholy, and transition, reflecting the natural cycle of life. This symbolic gesture—the sun's daily descent—reappears in the works of Romantic painters, symbolizing the transient nature of existence. The cycle of death and rebirth, inherent in the setting sun, persists, shaping our understanding of time and eternity. It has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings, continuing its dance through history.