Landskab med lave bakker og store træer. 1873

P.C. Skovgaard made this pencil drawing, "Landscape with low hills and large trees," whose seeming simplicity belies the power of its motifs. Consider the trees, symbols of life, growth, and connection between heaven and earth. Throughout history, trees have been central to mythologies and religions, from the Tree of Life in ancient Assyria to the sacred groves of the Celts. Note how Skovgaard renders the trees not as rigid forms, but as dynamic, almost animated figures, their branches reaching and swaying with life. This is a recurring motif that appears again and again in art across cultures. The image connects to our collective memory, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level as the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth reminds us of the non-linear progression of time and meaning. These symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings.