Driehoekstraat te Amsterdam 1870 - 1926

This print by Willem Wenckebach captures the Driehoekstraat in Amsterdam, rendered with ink on paper. Notice the stark, barren tree at the heart of the composition. A symbol echoing throughout art history, from ancient fertility rites to the medieval Tree of Life. The bare tree often represents winter and death, a period of dormancy. Yet, it also conveys the anticipation of spring and rebirth. Consider its likeness to Yggdrasil, the World Tree of Norse mythology, a connection between the heavens and the earth. In psychoanalytic terms, the tree can symbolize the self, with its roots delving into the subconscious. The leafless state here might reflect a collective feeling of starkness, a winter of the soul. The image subtly stirs deep-seated emotional responses, reminding us of life’s cyclical nature and the hope inherent in even the most desolate scenes. Like the serpent, or the green man, this symbol continues to resurface, constantly renewed.