Huis op rots, Ocean Beach, California, Verenigde Staten c. 1881 - 1910

Isaiah West Taber captured this image of the Cliff House and Seal Rocks from Ocean Beach in California. The building sits high on the cliff. The house on a cliff immediately brings to mind the notion of an isolated sanctuary, a theme that echoes throughout history. We see it, for example, in illuminated manuscripts where monasteries perch atop mountains. The archetype is one of spiritual refuge or enlightenment. Water has always been a sign of movement and change, but here, it's threatening the cliff. Consider also the psychological implications: the subconscious attraction to both the security of high ground and the unpredictable nature of the sea. This constant interplay has echoed across various cultural eras, reflecting the enduring human fascination with finding stability amidst life's turbulent waters. It’s a timeless dance of memory and reinvention.