Boom met Thomas van Aquino (deel rechtsonder) 1590

This engraving depicts the "Tree of Theology of Thomas Aquinas," made by an anonymous artist. The tree, dense with interconnected circles of text, visually represents the complex relationships between theological concepts. The motif of the tree, a universal symbol of life, growth, and interconnectedness, is here grafted onto the scholastic tradition. The Tree of Knowledge, a potent symbol of intellectual and spiritual growth, connects this image to the broader human quest for understanding. Consider the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, or the genealogical trees of noble families. The tree-like structure visualizes knowledge as an organic, growing entity, deeply rooted in tradition yet constantly branching into new ideas. The human mind, much like this tree, seeks to order and classify the world. It organizes information into structures that reflect our deepest psychological and cultural patterns. In presenting the complexity of knowledge as a tree, the engraver engages our primal understanding of growth and connection. The symbols persist, and in their repetition, we see the enduring human need to make sense of the world around us.