Planten 1831 - 1888

Arnoud Schaepkens created this print of plants using etching. The artwork foregrounds plants with their roots in water. Historically, the depiction of plants is steeped in symbolism, harking back to ancient cultures. Recall the laurel wreaths of the Greeks, or the lotus in Egyptian art, each bearing potent meanings of triumph and rebirth. Here, we might consider the psychological weight of verdant life emerging from the water, a symbol of the subconscious. The image evokes primal feelings of growth, regeneration, and the cyclical nature of existence. Consider Botticelli’s "Primavera," where flora explodes with allegorical significance. Or even further back, to the detailed botanical studies of Leonardo da Vinci. This image is not merely a collection of plants but an echo of humanity’s enduring fascination with the natural world, resonating through centuries. It’s as if these forms carry with them a memory, triggering subconscious connections. What we see here is not merely botanical, but a potent, emotional expression, an almost primordial image that touches something ancient within us.