Bospad c. 1884 - 1887

This sketch, “Bospad,” by Willem Witsen, presents a series of slender trees that dominate the composition, their verticality a stark contrast to the obscured ground. The forest, a powerful symbol, is deeply rooted in the human psyche, representing both refuge and the unknown. Consider the forest's presence in earlier works, such as those of the German Romantics, who saw nature as a reflection of the soul's depths. It’s a motif repeated through time. This image invites the viewer to project their own emotional states onto its depths, blurring the boundary between the external world and the internal landscape. The trees, like silent sentinels, stand as witnesses to time, their forms echoing through art history, and reminding us of the enduring power of nature to evoke contemplation and introspection. It calls us to reflect on our relationship with the natural world.