Oostzijde van slot Ekolsund 1690

This is Willem Swidde's etching of the East Side of Ekolsund Castle. At first glance, the symmetrical and orderly architecture speaks of human control over nature. But observe the bare tree on the left. Its stark, twisting branches, devoid of leaves, introduce a counterpoint to the structured scene. The motif of the barren tree appears across cultures, from depictions of the Garden of Eden after the Fall to Norse mythology's Yggdrasil. In each, it symbolizes loss, the cycle of life and death, and the dormant potential for rebirth. Here, the tree's proximity to the castle, a symbol of power and permanence, suggests an underlying tension, a reminder of mortality within the trappings of grandeur. Its melancholic form resonates with a deep, subconscious awareness of time's passage. The viewer is confronted with both the constructed order and the untamed forces of nature and psyche. This cyclical progression reminds us that symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings across contexts, echoing through our collective memory.