Landschap met eikenbomen en een figuur 1850

Here is a landscape sketch made by Willem Roelofs, featuring a few oak trees and a couple of resting figures, rendered in pencil. The oak, a symbol deeply rooted in the collective memory, echoes through art history. The motif of the oak tree is seen as a symbol of strength and endurance. Think of the ancient Greeks, for whom the oak was sacred to Zeus, king of the gods, or the Romans, who associated it with Jupiter. In Northern European traditions, the oak was revered by the Celts and Germanic tribes as a symbol of the axis mundi, the world's central point, connecting the earth to the heavens. The oak tree surfaces throughout history, evolving in meaning yet retaining its core associations. It becomes a mirror reflecting cultural values. The symbolism attached to the oak, passed down through generations, engages viewers on a subconscious level, evoking feelings of steadfastness and resilience. Its presence is a testament to the enduring power of nature and its symbols.