Hütten bei zwei großen Bäumen, auf dem Weg ein Wagen und zwei Männer am Zaun 

This drawing, "Hutten bei zwei großen Bäumen" by Hermanus van Brussel, presents a seemingly simple country scene, yet it is rich with symbolism. Dominating the landscape are two large trees, ancient symbols of life, endurance, and the connection between heaven and earth. The presence of both a vibrant, leafy tree and a stark, barren one evokes a poignant juxtaposition, reminiscent of the cyclical nature of existence, and the eternal dance between life and death. Consider its echoes in classical art, where trees often frame scenes of transformation, be it Ovid’s myths or Christian allegories of the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge. In the barren tree, there is a stark reminder of mortality but also a hidden promise of spring, which resonates with a collective memory that surfaces time and again in art: from winter landscapes of the Northern Renaissance to van Gogh's desolate yet hopeful "Wheatfield with Crows." The viewer is thus drawn into a deeper, almost subconscious contemplation, an echo of nature's power to evoke complex emotions.