Boomwortels 1921

Curator: The work before us, titled "Boomwortels," which translates to "Tree Roots," is an etching and woodcut by Cornelis van Steenwijk, created in 1921. It’s a stunning example of realistic line work in landscape art. What's your initial take on this piece? Editor: Raw and vulnerable, wouldn't you say? The exposed roots clutching the earth feel almost visceral. It's like seeing the inner workings, the foundation of something ancient laid bare. Makes me think of my own tangled roots. Curator: Absolutely. Roots have always held potent symbolic weight. They represent not just stability, but also heritage, connection to the past. In many cultures, the tree itself is a symbol of the world tree, linking the earthly and spiritual realms, the roots anchoring that connection. And the exposed nature invites analysis. Is it weakness or exposure that attracts the eye? Editor: Definitely vulnerability but also strength, I mean, those roots are incredibly resilient. They’ve clearly weathered storms. It’s not a pretty, manicured landscape, is it? It is so dense, and has the feeling that the ground and root formations continue endlessly on the ground out of frame. The webbed approach also connects me to looking at brain scan imagery. The way ideas connect. The overall effect is powerful; an evocative interplay between strength and fragility that is extremely relatable on the human plane. Curator: Van Steenwijk's choice of the etching and woodcut, particularly the emphasis on line work, really amplifies that raw feeling you described. The density, the overlapping lines almost create a textural map of the land itself and it amplifies those brain-scan connections by mirroring a form we already recognize from science as critical information webs. It prompts contemplation of both mortality and enduring vitality. Editor: The realism here avoids sentimentality, right? These aren’t idealized, picturesque roots. There’s grit, earth clinging to them, imperfection and the line detail emphasizes this reality. It's not just about showing what's visible, but about conveying the sense of something alive, struggling, persisting, even underground. What is left unspoken gives this artwork so much resonance! Curator: Precisely. Steenwijk seems to capture not only a moment in time, but also a sense of timelessness through its realistic roots, a feeling underscored by the cyclical nature of trees and the land. Editor: It makes you think about what’s hidden beneath the surface. Curator: Exactly, both literally in terms of the land, but also metaphorically, inviting us to consider the hidden aspects of ourselves, and culture’s buried narratives and untold stories. Thank you, "Boomwortels." I feel forever uprooted now.