[Civil War View] 1860s

This evocative landscape was captured by Thomas C. Roche, a photographer working during the American Civil War. Note how the stillness of the water and the buildings reflected within it create a mirror image. Water has long been a symbol of purification, transformation, and the subconscious. Reflecting on these themes, we are reminded of Narcissus, who saw his own reflection and was consumed by it. But the image reflected on the water is not just of the self, it carries with it the weight of memory, history, and shared cultural consciousness. Water has a powerful force engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. Here, the mirroring suggests a nation at war with itself. We are reminded that water symbolizes the cyclical nature of history and the way past events resurface and continue to influence the present. As we observe the image and the symbols embedded within it, we consider how they have evolved over time and been passed down through history, taking on new meanings in the modern world.