Pollard Willows (Les saules tetards) 

Alphonse Legros created this etching, Pollard Willows, sometime during his career in the late 19th century. Legros was deeply affected by the social disparities he witnessed, and although he became known for his pastoral scenes, they often reflect a somber view of rural life. Notice the stark contrast between light and shadow that heightens the emotional tension within the scene. The pollard willows themselves, trees that have been repeatedly cut back to promote growth, can be viewed as a metaphor for resilience. But, what kind of resilience does it represent? Is this the resilience of nature adapting to human intervention, or perhaps a commentary on the human condition itself? Legros’s choice to depict this subject with such starkness invites us to reflect on the relationship between humanity and the natural world. He prompts a dialogue about the cyclical nature of destruction and regeneration, mirrored in both the landscape and our lives. These themes are not just about visual representation, they are about feeling and understanding the deeper currents of existence.