Obersee bij Schönau am Königssee 1878

This stereoscopic photograph by Johann Friedrich Stiehm, taken in 1878, captures the serene Obersee at Schönau am Königssee. The dominant symbol here is the evergreen tree, standing as a sentinel against the towering mountains and mirrored in the still waters. The evergreen, a symbol of steadfastness and eternal life, stretches back through ancient cultures. We find it in Roman festivities and Germanic pagan rites, its unwavering green offering hope amidst winter's desolation. In Christian iconography, it represents Christ's immortality. Think of the Christmas tree, a direct descendant of these traditions, transplanted into domestic life. The psychological draw of the evergreen lies in its promise of continuity. It speaks to our innate longing for permanence, resonating deeply within our collective memory. Stiehm’s capture, using a modern technology, reaffirms the evergreen as a constant presence, an emblem of nature's enduring strength against our ever-changing human world. The symbol persists, a timeless echo across centuries.