Landschap met bossage 1836 - 1892

This landscape with trees was etched by Jacques Marie Adrien van Hellenberg Hubar. Here, the stand of trees—a recurring motif in art history— dominates the scene, reaching towards the sky. Consider the image of trees across cultures; from the Tree of Life in ancient mythologies to the sacred groves of the classical world, trees symbolize growth, connection, and the cyclical nature of existence. Now, reflect on the Romantic era, when this image was produced, in which artists sought refuge in nature, imbuing landscapes with emotional and spiritual significance. Hubar here employs dense, almost claustrophobic vegetation to evoke feelings of introspection. The collective memory of the forest, and the deep subconscious pull it exerts, engages us on a profound level. Through the ages, this same symbol appears and reappears, evolving, adapting, yet carrying echoes of its primordial origins.