Study of trees 

Here we have Rik Wouters' study of trees, a landscape captured with ink. The trees, looming and dense, are the dominant symbols here, evoking the ancient concept of the 'axis mundi,' the world's center, a concept stretching back to Mesopotamian art. The thick, tangled branches are not merely botanical studies, but rather reflect a psychological state, recalling the forest as a place of both refuge and fear, a concept explored by Renaissance artists, like Bosch. Consider also the twisted trees in Romantic paintings; symbols of the sublime power of nature, dwarfing humanity. These visual forms are passed down through generations, tapping into our collective memory. Think, too, of the fairy tales where forests are settings for transformation. As the symbol of the tree evolves through time, it continues to evoke nature's profound ability to connect with the deepest layers of our psyche.