Dennenbomen bovenaan een waterval Possibly 1858 - 1859

Johannes Tavenraat rendered this sketch of "Dennenbomen bovenaan een waterval" with swift strokes of graphite on paper. Though seemingly a mere study, it pulses with the symbolic weight of nature. The waterfall, a motif echoing through art history, evokes purification and the relentless flow of time. Remember the cascading waters in Renaissance depictions of the Baptism of Christ, or even the Romantic painters' awe-struck visions of nature's sublime power? Here, the cascade is not just water but a symbol of life's journey. Consider the pine trees, ancient symbols of immortality and resilience. We see echoes of this in ancient Roman funerary art where pinecones adorned tombs, promising rebirth. The image, seemingly simple, engages us on a subconscious level, tapping into primal fears and hopes about the transience and continuation of existence.