Bank of a Lake in Central Park 1890

William Merritt Chase created this pastel drawing of Central Park, a bank of a lake, sometime around the turn of the 20th century. Notice the prominent tree, its branches spread wide, a long-standing symbol of life, growth, and the connection between the earthly and the divine. We can trace the veneration of trees back to ancient cultures. The Celts, for example, believed trees were the embodiment of ancestors and guardians of sacred spaces. Consider the World Tree, Yggdrasil, in Norse mythology, connecting heaven, earth, and the underworld, or the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden. Here, the tree seems to offer a sense of shelter and continuity amidst the fleeting moments of modern life. The very presence of the tree becomes a psychological anchor, engaging our subconscious on a deep level. It evokes feelings of stability, protection, and a timeless connection to nature, a recurring motif in human consciousness. This enduring symbol of the tree has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings across historical contexts, a testament to its deep roots in our collective psyche.