Waterfall in the mountains 

Carl Friedrich von Rumohr rendered this landscape in ink and wash, focusing on a waterfall cascading down a rocky mountain. Water, throughout art history, symbolizes purity, renewal, and the cyclical nature of life. Consider the nymphs of classical mythology, often depicted near springs and rivers, embodying the life-giving force of nature. Even earlier, the Babylonians saw Ea, their water god, as the source of all wisdom. The image of the waterfall connects us to the ancient concept of the 'horror vacui,' a fear of empty spaces which we find as far back as the art of the Bronze Age. Rumohr fills the scene with intricate details of nature, perhaps reflecting a subconscious desire to fill the void, and stave off the anxiety of emptiness. This piece, more than just a landscape, serves as a conduit to our collective memories. The waterfall becomes a potent symbol, continuously resurfacing across cultures and epochs.