Sneeuwplaar in de White Mountains Possibly 1861 - 1868

This stereograph by John P. Soule captures a pillar of snow in the White Mountains. It seems to echo the visual symbol of the arch, a motif deeply embedded in human consciousness. The arch appears throughout history, from ancient Roman architecture signifying triumph and passage, to religious iconography representing a gateway to the divine. In its most basic form, the arch is a symbol of transition, a threshold between two states. But here, the arch of snow is transient, fragile, and temporal. Consider how the triumphal arch of Rome evolved into the Gothic arch in medieval cathedrals, each iteration imbued with new meaning. While the Roman arch celebrated earthly power, the Gothic arch aspired to the heavens, representing spiritual transcendence. And yet, it's the same symbol, continually reinvented. Here, the precarious snow arch evokes a sense of melancholy, capturing a fleeting moment in nature’s cycle. It’s a reminder of the ephemeral quality of life, a memento mori rendered in ice and stone. The arch is eternal, but this snow will soon melt.