Maneschijn op een meer omringd door bomen 1893 - 1896

Herman Boulenger's "Moonlight on a Lake Surrounded by Trees" uses etching to create a nocturne dominated by the symbolic presence of the moon. As a celestial body, the moon has been connected to the unconscious, and the cyclical rhythms of nature and time across cultures. Consider its appearance in ancient Greek art, where Selene drove her chariot across the night sky. The moon is often intertwined with themes of mystery, dreams, and the subconscious. Think of the powerful lunar deity in ancient cultures, often associated with fertility and intuition, mirroring the emotional depths within us. The artist uses the moon to tap into something primal. The soft glow evokes a sense of introspection, as the moon's reflection on the water doubles this symbol, plunging us into an endless mirroring of light and dark. This contrast invites us to explore the depths of our own psyches, recognizing the moon as a recurring symbol of human experience and our connection to the cosmos.