Portret van een onbekende man en vrouw bij een rivier before 1900

This photograph by J. Bulet captures an unknown man and woman beside a river. Here, the river serves as a potent symbol, a motif deeply embedded in the human psyche. Rivers are not just geographical features; they represent the passage of time, the flow of life, and the boundaries between worlds. Think of the ancient Egyptians, for whom the Nile was the very lifeblood of their civilization, a conduit to the afterlife. Or consider the mythological rivers, like the Styx, marking the border of the underworld. This archetype echoes through cultures, surfacing in countless stories and dreams. Here, the river's gentle flow suggests a quiet moment of reflection, a pause in the relentless march of time. It invites us to contemplate the transient nature of existence, a theme that continues to resonate across epochs. The river's enduring presence reminds us that while civilizations rise and fall, some symbols retain their primal power, perpetually renewing their significance.