Hoge bomen aan het water 1860 - 1910

Alfred Elsen created this etching, "Tall Trees by the Water," capturing a serene waterside scene. The trees, standing like silent sentinels, evoke a sense of nature's stoic presence. Consider how trees, as symbols, weave through art across epochs. Think of the Tree of Life, a motif stretching from ancient Assyrian carvings to Klimt's shimmering canvases. They are not mere botanical features; they embody growth, connection, and the cyclical rhythms of life. Here, the trees are reflected in the water, mirroring life and death. This recalls Narcissus, who wasted away staring at his own reflection, thinking it was something separate from himself. In Elsen's etching, the forest is not a symbol of self-obsession but of transformation. The reflection in the water evokes introspection, engaging viewers on a subconscious level, a powerful force that transcends time. We see not just an image, but a mirror to our inner selves, caught in the flow of time.