Boom aan een waterkant bij een poort 1860 - 1861

Isaac Gosschalk rendered this sketch of a tree by the waterside near a gate with graphite. Here, the tree is not merely a botanical specimen; it’s a profound symbol rooted in ancient myths. We find variations of the 'tree of life' across cultures, acting as a connector between the earthly and divine realms. Likewise, the gate, crowned with what seems like an urn, serves as a marker of transition. This image echoes motifs found in funerary art, where gates symbolize the passage to the afterlife. The inclusion of water suggests themes of purification and rebirth. The very composition, with the heavy foliage and looming shadows, evokes a sense of introspection, almost a melancholic contemplation of mortality. These symbols are not static but are ever-evolving, adapting with human experience. And so, they resurface, each time coloured by the anxieties and aspirations of their age.