Bomen en struikgewas 1870 - 1931

This sketch, rendered by Willem Bastiaan Tholen with graphite, showcases a seemingly simple landscape of trees and shrubbery. But consider the tree itself—a primal symbol. From ancient mythologies where trees were the abode of gods, to the Tree of Knowledge in religious texts, the tree motif grows deep roots in our collective consciousness. The tree appears throughout history, from fertility rituals to emblems of strength. Reflect, if you will, on how the tree is used in Romanticism to echo the sublime, untamed power of nature. Note also the psychological resonance of a forest, as one can see here in its most rudimentary form—the space of transformation, of shadow and light—a place of both peril and promise. The forest, like the human psyche, is a complex labyrinth, where subconscious desires and fears take shape. These organic forms are more than meets the eye: they are enduring symbols that engage viewers on a deep, subconscious level, perpetually resurfacing, evolving, and branching out with new meaning through time.