Groepsportret van 23 mannen en vrouwen tijdens een picknick in een bos, met o.a. Henry Pauw van Wieldrecht 1892

This photograph by Henry Pauw van Wieldrecht captures a group picnic in the woods. The trees here are not just background, but active symbols, recalling the sacred groves of antiquity. From ancient Greece to the Germanic forests, trees were seen as living beings, home to spirits and gods. Look at how the trees surround the gathering, almost as if they are silent witnesses to this social ritual. This scene echoes the pastoral settings of Renaissance paintings, where nature is both a refuge and a stage for human dramas. The act of gathering in nature carries a profound emotional weight. It reminds us of our connection to the earth and to each other. The forest setting evokes a sense of timelessness, tapping into a collective memory of simpler times. These symbols remind us that culture and history are intertwined. The image resonates today because it revives archaic collective memories.