Kust van Nederlands-Indië met waterval uitmondend in zee 1912

This photograph, taken by Onnes Kurkdjian, captures a coastal scene of the Dutch East Indies, dominated by a powerful waterfall cascading into the sea. The image brings to mind the ancient motif of the 'axis mundi,' where water serves as a conduit between different realms. Consider this: the waterfall, a symbol of purity and renewal, finds echoes in baptismal rites across cultures and the mythological rivers of the underworld. In ancient Greece, the river Styx marked the boundary between life and death, a concept resonating with the waterfall's dramatic plunge. The constant flow of water, moreover, embodies the Heraclitean notion of perpetual change, mirrored in the cyclical patterns of nature and human existence. Such imagery touches upon our collective unconscious, evoking a sense of awe and the sublime—a primal connection to the forces that shape our world and our inner selves. This photograph, therefore, serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring power of archetypal symbols.