Gezicht op Broughty Ferry bij Dundee before 1890

This monochrome photograph captures a panoramic view of Broughty Ferry by Valentine & Sons. The clustered buildings evoke a sense of community, nestled along the riverbank, mirroring the enduring human need for settlement near water. Note how the river acts as a channel, a motif resonating deeply across cultures, symbolizing not just physical transport but also the flow of time and ideas. Consider the ancient Egyptians, for whom the Nile was the lifeblood of their civilization, or the Greeks, whose myths often featured rivers as boundaries between worlds. The river's form echoes the serpent, an archetype representing the subconscious, capable of both creation and destruction. This photograph, while seemingly a straightforward depiction of a town, engages our collective memory. The emotional weight of water as a symbol is a powerful force here, inviting us to reflect on the passage of time and our place within the ever-flowing currents of history.