Bomen 1834 - 1906

Here, in this sketch by Maria Vos, we see trees rendered with a flurry of graphite, a seemingly simple subject. Yet, the tree has always been much more than mere flora. Consider its towering presence through history, from the Tree of Knowledge in biblical lore to the sacred groves of classical antiquity, a symbol of life, growth, and connection between the earthly and divine realms. Its presence extends into modern iterations such as, say, the tree of life in Gustav Klimt's paintings; each a deep-rooted connection to ancestral memory. Even in Vos’ seemingly straightforward depiction, the density of the graphite mimics the density of our accumulated cultural memories. The image evokes a sense of the forest as a space of mystery, transformation, a powerful force engaging us on a deep, subconscious level. The symbol of the tree, constantly resurfacing, evolving, its meaning deepening with each new context, embodies our own cyclical journey through history.