Landscape 1500 - 1533

Sōami painted this landscape in ink on paper around the turn of the 16th century. The scene, with its muted tones, focuses on natural motifs: water, rocks, and spindly trees. The weeping willow, prominently featured, is more than just a tree. Throughout history, the willow has symbolized mourning, loss, and resilience, appearing across cultures from ancient Babylon, where it was associated with lamentation, to later Christian contexts where its association with weeping became linked with Psalm 137. The repetition of the weeping willow across such diverse cultural landscapes points to a deep, perhaps subconscious, resonance. It reminds me of the persistence of certain archetypes, as described by Jung, in our collective unconscious, and how these symbols touch us on a profound, emotional level. The willow's presence here speaks to a cycle of weeping and healing, demonstrating how symbols persist, adapt, and continue to engage us.