Boom in blad c. 1863 - 1864

Maria Vos sketched this tree, a 'Boom in blad', with pencil on paper. The tree, a potent symbol of life and growth, has been revered across cultures and ages. Consider the Tree of Life, a motif found from ancient Mesopotamia to Germanic paganism, often seen as a source of wisdom, or as the connection between the celestial and earthly realms. Similarly, the medieval Christian tradition views the Tree of Jesse as the lineage of Christ, a symbol of divine ancestry. Here, however, the tree stands alone in its raw, unadorned state, its branches stretching, seemingly unrestrained. This evokes a primal connection to nature, tapping into our collective memory of nature's vital force, a force that transcends religious doctrine. Vos captures an emotional intensity through the tree's bare form. It may be a silent outcry from the depths of human experience that engages us on a subconscious level, a visceral reminder of our own mortality. The image of the tree, ever-changing, persists through time, continuously re-emerging in art, reflecting our enduring relationship with the natural world.