Boslaan bij Dorking, Surrey 1859 - 1882

Alfred Rosling captured this lane scene near Dorking, Surrey, using photography, a relatively new medium at the time. The path here, winding and shadowed, embodies a primal symbol of life’s journey. This path, flanked by trees reaching skyward, evokes the ancient motif of the axis mundi, the world tree connecting the earthly and divine realms. Think of Yggdrasil from Norse mythology, or even the tree of knowledge in Eden. Notice how the path vanishes into the distance, shrouded in shadow. This obscurity mirrors our own uncertain futures, the unknown that lies ahead, and the psychological unease it inspires. Yet, this pathway also implies possibility and transformation, calling to mind similar images of roads through forests in fairy tales, where one encounters trials and tribulations, ultimately leading to self-discovery. The image is not simply a record of a landscape, but a profound meditation on the passage of time and our place within the eternal cycles of nature.