Abstract 1970

Elaine de Kooning created this ink drawing with bold strokes, capturing the essence of a tree's bare branches. It's more than just a depiction of nature, it’s a powerful symbol. The tree, with its stark, reaching limbs, has long been a motif in art and mythology, representing life, death, and rebirth. Think of the Tree of Knowledge in religious texts, or the World Tree, Yggdrasil, in Norse mythology, connecting the heavens, the earth, and the underworld. Here, the bare branches evoke a sense of winter, of dormancy and introspection, but also of potential. There is a sense of melancholy; this motif has roots in the artistic traditions of vanitas, which serves as a reminder of the fleeting nature of life. Despite this, we are not overcome by the darkness; we recognize that this is a cyclical process, and the barren branches will sprout again in the spring, full of life and promise. This drawing reminds us of the cyclical nature of life, the interplay between destruction and renewal, which is a potent symbol that resonates across cultures and through time.