View on the Upper Mississippi 

John Frederick Kensett captured this landscape of the Upper Mississippi with oil on canvas. The placid river, framed by the rugged bluffs, evokes a sense of sublime serenity. Water is a powerful symbol; across cultures, it represents purity, renewal, and the subconscious mind. Here, the river acts as a mirror, reflecting the sky and the bluffs, blurring the line between the tangible and the ethereal. This mirroring reminds me of Narcissus gazing at his reflection, lost in contemplation. The doubling effect speaks to the human desire for introspection and understanding one's place within the vastness of nature. Consider the mountain motif, a symbol seen in the art of many cultures, as the dwelling place of gods, and a site for spiritual transformation. Mountains evoke a sense of awe and reverence. Through Kensett's work, one can glimpse the cyclical nature of symbols and how they resonate in our collective memory.