Spijsverteringsstelsel van een zeemuis before 1901

This photograph captures the digestive system of a sea mouse. The image is striking for its branching structure. The central canal extends downwards, dividing into numerous forms. Such branching patterns are found in other anatomical depictions from different times and places, like the ‘Tree of the Vessels’. The circulatory system resembles a tree, with the heart as its trunk, which extends downwards. The roots symbolize the arteries and veins reaching into every part of the body. This is a motif that recurs in various contexts, embodying vitality, life, and interconnection. The connection between the human body and a tree is more than a visual metaphor; the tree is a symbol that represents the archetypal structure, an emotional and psychological force that engages viewers on a deep, subconscious level. Through this representation, we acknowledge the cyclical, non-linear progression of this symbol, how it resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different historical contexts.