Willow trunk 

Friedrich Wilhelm Hirt captured this Willow trunk with graphite on paper. The tree, with its gnarled texture and hollowed core, presents a powerful image of resilience and endurance. Historically, the willow has been a symbol of mourning, adaptability, and healing, deeply embedded in cultural narratives across different societies. Hirt’s focus on the trunk is an intimate look into the life of the tree itself: it has endured environmental hardships, perhaps even human interventions, yet it stands firmly rooted. The willow embodies a powerful metaphor for the voiceless. It serves as a silent witness to human histories, ecological changes, and the passage of time, prompting us to consider our relationship with nature and the environment. Hirt's work encourages us to contemplate the narratives of survival and adaptation.