Boslandschap, mogelijk in Zuid-Afrika 1967 - 1971

This photograph, by Willem Jacob van den Berg, captures a woodland scene, possibly in South Africa, with a palette dominated by verdant greens and earthy tones. The dense foliage and enveloping trees evoke a sense of mystery, inviting us into a space teeming with life and hidden narratives. The image recalls the ancient motif of the ‘locus amoenus’, the pleasant place. This archetype appears across cultures, from the Garden of Eden in religious texts to idyllic landscapes in classical art. These spaces symbolize refuge and contemplation. We see traces of this in the artist’s choice of subject matter and composition. However, the photograph doesn't suggest a place of rest, instead a sense of wandering comes to mind. The symbolism transcends time. The forest, viewed by Freud as a powerful symbol of the unconscious, surfaces again. The viewer must navigate the entangled pathways of the mind, each tree and shadow representing the complexities of our inner worlds. The forest has always evolved. Each iteration reflects society's shifting relationship with nature and the self.