Study of Trees in a Landscape 

Curator: This is a study by John Varley called "Study of Trees in a Landscape". It appears to be a drawing. The subdued palette gives it a really intriguing sense of age. Editor: My first thought is how grounding it feels. Earthy tones, obviously, but the composition just seems to settle my gaze, and therefore, my mind. The tree really does give a symbolic shelter and calm. Curator: Absolutely. I find myself wondering about the use of what seems to be toned paper. What effect do you think it has on the final work? Editor: The toned paper brings immediate depth without demanding a lot of dark lines. It lends that vintage feel as if you’re discovering a hidden moment tucked away in a forgotten journal. In many cultural traditions, trees act as connectors between the earth and the heavens. Notice how Varley emphasizes the upwards reach of the top branches? Curator: Yes, I do! He manages to suggest quite a grand scene with an economy of line. Did he plan for the architecture on the horizon or include them spontaneously, I wonder? The mountain in the distance suggests perhaps not as it grounds the tree. Editor: They balance the tree. This subtle inclusion echoes, for me, the symbol of the 'world tree' or 'axis mundi,' that you can find across so many mythologies. Its a testament to the enduring human need to create and conceptualise these ties, linking ourselves to both earthly and cosmic realms. Even the materials carry meaning; toned paper absorbs light rather than reflecting it, turning our attention to the image itself. Curator: A clever device. It does have a timeless, almost melancholic quality about it. One is aware of standing on the brink of...something. I suppose such openness invites projection. What are your concluding thoughts? Editor: For me, the enduring power of art resides in its ability to let us tap into these symbolic systems, which structure our understanding of the world, our memories, and emotional experience, offering a shared and ever evolving cultural narrative. Curator: It seems to hold the possibility of connection between everything as he allows for us to imagine an array of elements that all tie together seamlessly. I think the success here is his delicate suggestion that can allow the piece to breathe as you engage with it and let the connections flow as freely as the linework.