Het lot van een kerstboom 1874

"Het lot van een kerstboom" or "The fate of a christmas tree" is an undated print by De Ruyter & Meijer. Arranged in a grid of six panels, it presents a visual narrative, guiding our eyes across a sequence of events from the tree’s origin to its inevitable end. The print uses color sparingly, with muted tones of green, brown, and blue that create a nostalgic atmosphere. Each panel contains a self-contained composition, and the artists frame the tree’s life cycle in discrete stages. This episodic structure breaks down traditional notions of linear time, presenting instead a cyclical view of nature and culture. The progression from forest to home, and finally to discard, destabilizes the sentimental value we often assign to festive objects. The tree, once a symbol of vitality and celebration, ends as discarded debris, challenging our understanding of value and temporality. This composition serves as a meditation on the transient nature of beauty and the commodification of nature, prompting us to reflect on the deeper structures that underpin our cultural practices.