Gezicht op La Jonction bij Genève before 1880

This albumen print by Auguste Garcin captures the confluence of two rivers near Geneva. Water, as a symbol, is rife with ancient associations. Think of the rivers Lethe and Styx of the classical underworld, which ancient Greeks believed souls had to cross to enter the afterlife. We find similar ideas in ancient Egypt with the concept of souls crossing water on their way to the afterlife. In this image, the merging rivers evoke not just geographical features, but powerful images of the passage of time, the flow of life, and the dissolution of boundaries. Consider also the psychological weight rivers carry. They separate and connect, reflecting the human experience of isolation and union. This image encourages contemplation on the ever-changing nature of our existence and the continuous flow of life.