Scène de rivière c. 1860 - 1870

Charles François Daubigny captured this River Scene with oil on canvas, achieving a harmony between earth and sky. Note how the trees reach upwards, their forms echoed in the tall grasses mirrored in the water. From ancient times, trees symbolize growth, resilience, and the connection between the earthly and divine. This is mirrored in the story of Daphne whose transformation into a laurel is not an end, but a beginning, a continuation. Water, too, has held countless meanings, representing purification, life, and the subconscious. Consider its use in baptism, where immersion signifies rebirth. In myth, rivers are boundaries, thresholds to the unknown. Here, the river reflects the sky, blurring the line between the conscious and unconscious, inviting us to contemplate our own depths. Thus, Daubigny's painting invites us to reflect on these archetypal symbols, their endurance across time, and their profound influence on our collective psyche.