Het verdorde en stervende actieboompje, 1720 1697 - 1720

"Het verdorde en stervende actieboompje" (The Withered and Dying Action Tree) is a 17th-century etching by Pieter van den Berge, a Dutch artist known for his detailed depictions of plants and flowers. This artwork, housed at the Rijksmuseum, showcases a single, withered tree, symbolic of mortality and the fragility of life. The intricate details of the branches and leaves, rendered in a stark yet realistic manner, are characteristic of van den Berge's style, known for its precision and use of light and shadow. The work's title further emphasizes its melancholic tone, highlighting the fleeting nature of growth and the inevitable cycle of death.