Oak tree top 1847

Peter Becker’s drawing at the Städel Museum presents us with the crown of an oak, sketched with delicate precision. The oak, deeply rooted in the soil, has long symbolized strength, endurance, and wisdom. Throughout history, the oak tree has been revered. In ancient Greece, it was sacred to Zeus, the king of the gods, embodying power and authority. For the Celts and Germanic peoples, the oak was a cosmic tree, a link between the earth and the heavens, a sacred space for rituals and gatherings. We see the oak motif repeated throughout art history, notably in landscapes reflecting the romantic notions of nature. Becker's tree captures something more profound. The branches reaching upwards evoke a sense of longing, while the sturdy trunk provides a grounding force, an anchor in the material world. Consider how, in different forms, the oak continues to appear in heraldry and national symbols, each time evoking resilience. This drawing is more than a mere representation; it resonates with the weight of cultural memory and the enduring power of natural symbols.