Heuvellandschap met bomen 1893

Hermannus Adrianus van Oosterzee captured this landscape with trees in a charcoal drawing. Here, trees stand as silent witnesses, their presence deeply rooted in human consciousness. Trees were sacred in ancient cultures, seen as symbols of life, growth, and connection between the earthly and divine. Consider the ancient Greek myths, where sacred groves were home to nymphs and deities, or the Norse Yggdrasil, the World Tree connecting the nine realms. Even in contemporary art, the tree persists as a powerful image. Think of Mondrian's early explorations of trees, where he gradually reduced their forms to abstract symbols, reflecting a quest for spiritual understanding. The sight of trees may stir a primeval longing for the tranquility of nature, a deep-seated memory of simpler times. This drawing, with its stark depiction of nature, taps into our collective unconscious, reminding us of the enduring power of nature.