Landschap met wilgen before 1903

Otto Scharf's photograph, "Landschap met wilgen", or "Landscape with Willows", captures a serene scene with a keen eye for texture and light. Given the socio-political contexts which followed the end of the first world war, Scharf's work participates in a larger cultural trend of the time. Many artists sought refuge in natural landscapes as a response to the trauma and rapid industrialization of the war. The willow tree is a poignant choice of subject because it is often read as a symbol of resilience and mourning in folklore. Scharf's photograph emphasizes the weeping willow's elegant yet melancholic form, which serves as a symbol for the complex emotions of the era. The quiet beauty of Scharf’s composition encourages reflection on how we negotiate collective experiences of loss through the lens of the natural world.