Treebeard 

Here, Alan Lee captures Treebeard, the ancient shepherd of the forest, in watercolor. The dominant image is that of the wise, old tree, whose deep-set eyes reflect both immense age and deep understanding. He is the guardian of the forest. We can trace the image of the wise, old tree back through time. Think of the Tree of Knowledge in Eden, or the World Tree Yggdrasil in Norse mythology. These ancient symbols reflect a collective human understanding of the wisdom and knowledge found in nature. The Ent's form, a blend of human and arboreal, elicits our primordial connection to nature. This collective memory of the forest as a place of mystery and knowledge is a powerful force, engaging us on a subconscious level. The Treebeard reminds us that the wisdom of the natural world is deep-rooted in human consciousness. The forest has always been a place of deep-seated human fears, but also a sanctuary. Treebeard is more than a character, he is a symbol of humanity's timeless relationship with nature.