Roma, Lungo Tevere 1970

Włodzimierz Zakrzewski captured this view of Rome's Lungo Tevere in paint, a scene anchored by the trees that line the riverbank. Notice how these trees, rendered with thick impasto, stand as silent witnesses to the ebb and flow of city life. Trees, in art, carry a lineage stretching back to ancient mythologies. The tree of life, found in countless cultures, symbolizes growth, connection, and the cyclical nature of existence. Here, the trees bordering the Tiber become more than just botanical elements. They are symbols of Rome's enduring spirit, its ability to regenerate despite the currents of time. Consider the subtle variations in their form – some bare, others hinting at foliage. This may trigger feelings of melancholy, the transience of life. How might Zakrzewski's trees speak to our own subconscious awareness of time, memory, and the ever-changing landscape of human experience? They evoke emotions that connect us to the past and to the present, and remind us of the cyclical progression of history.