The Charlemagne, Oak Tree with an Eagle's Nest 1845

Eugène Bléry made this etching, "The Charlemagne, Oak Tree with an Eagle's Nest," sometime in the mid-19th century. Its subject matter allows us to consider the changing relationship between nature and culture during the rise of industrial society. The Charlemagne oak was one of a number of trees named after historical figures, mythologized and celebrated for their great size and age. While the etching invites quiet contemplation of the natural world, there are people in the background. The inclusion of these figures draws attention to the role of the individual within the vastness of nature and, by extension, within the rapid social changes taking place in France at this time. Historical records, such as period publications and ecological surveys, can reveal more about the cultural meanings people assigned to the natural world. These resources help us understand how the Romantics regarded nature as something to be protected, an idea which arose in response to the disruptive forces of industrialization and urbanization.