Trees against mountain 

Maurice Prendergast made this watercolor work, "Trees against mountain" capturing a landscape rich with natural forms. The dominant motif here is the tree, an archetypal symbol rooted deeply in human consciousness. Throughout history, across cultures, trees have represented life, growth, and the connection between earth and sky. In ancient mythologies, sacred groves were places of worship, seen as the abode of spirits or gods. Notice how Prendergast renders each tree with its own character, yet the landscape suggests a collective presence, a community. Trees have always held multiple layers of meaning, and their continued presence in art illustrates a deep, cyclical progression. This echoes through time as a symbol that resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different historical contexts.