Trunk of an Old Yew Tree 1888

Vincent van Gogh painted this trunk of an old Yew tree with oil on canvas. Here, the tree is more than just a botanical figure; it is a symbol of life's endurance. The yew tree, with its ancient associations, has been seen across cultures as a sign of both death and regeneration. The very texture of the bark, rendered with Van Gogh's signature impasto, gives it a tactile quality. Consider the tree not just as an isolated subject but as part of a lineage of symbolic trees stretching back to the Tree of Life in ancient mythologies or Yggdrasil, the World Tree of Norse legend. This symbol has undergone transformations throughout history, taking on new layers of meaning and significance while still resonating with the primal connection between humanity and nature. The image of the tree conveys an emotional intensity, a palpable sense of the raw power of nature. It is a powerful visual metaphor for the enduring strength found even in the face of decay and the constant cycle of death and rebirth that is part of the human condition.