Shadows, landscape with trees 1925

Max Meldrum captured this landscape with trees on canvas, its date obscured by time. The trees here are not mere botanical forms but stand as silent witnesses to the passage of time. The shadows they cast dance across the earth, reminiscent of the shadows in Plato's cave, hinting at hidden truths. Trees, throughout history, have been symbols of life, growth, and connection between the earthly and the divine. Consider Yggdrasil, the world tree of Norse mythology, whose roots connect the heavens, the earth, and the underworld. In Meldrum’s painting, the trees evoke a sense of stability but the fleeting shadows suggest impermanence. This interplay stirs a primeval recognition of our own existence and mortality. In these shadows, we see echoes of the past and intimations of the future. The image engages us on a subconscious level, revealing a world where symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings.