Banks of the Seine 1822 - 1885

Rodolphe Bresdin captured this scene of the Banks of the Seine in pencil, using the motif of the tree as a central theme. It is the tree that perhaps holds the most ancient symbolic power. Trees, with their roots reaching deep into the earth and branches stretching towards the sky, have long represented the connection between the terrestrial and the divine, serving as a potent symbol of life, growth, and interconnectedness. We see this echoed across cultures, from the Tree of Life in ancient Mesopotamian art to the sacred groves of the Druids. Consider the World Tree, Yggdrasil, in Norse mythology, its branches connecting the nine worlds, or the Bodhi tree under which Buddha achieved enlightenment. Through the ages the tree embodies a powerful emotional resonance, engaging viewers on a subconscious level as they contemplate themes of growth, transformation, and the cyclical nature of existence.