Knotwilg in landschap met molen 1867 - 1914

Maurits van der Valk created this etching of a pollard willow in a landscape with a mill. Note how the hollow, aged tree dominates the composition. The motif of the tree, especially one that is gnarled, old, or hollow, has long been a symbol of life, death, and regeneration. We see it echoed through art history, from ancient myths to Romantic paintings, each time carrying a similar yet subtly different emotional charge. Think of the World Tree, Yggdrasil, in Norse mythology, connecting heaven, earth, and hell. Or Caspar David Friedrich’s solitary oaks, emblems of resilience against the backdrop of nature's might. Here, the tree's cavity might evoke feelings of vulnerability and the passage of time, prompting reflection on our own mortality. The mill in the background, a symbol of human endeavor and transformation, contrasts the tree's natural, enduring presence. The potent image of the tree, and how it connects with the mill, engages us on a deeply emotional level, reminding us of the cyclical patterns of life and the enduring power of nature.