Landskab med hytte under høje træer 1858 - 1861

This is an ink drawing by Theodore Rousseau, titled 'Landscape with a Hut Under Tall Trees'. The image is composed of a few trees that surround a humble, small hut. Trees throughout time have symbolized life, growth, and connection between the earth and the heavens. Here, Rousseau seems to be hinting at the natural order and its importance for mankind. The hut, a place of refuge, is dwarfed by the trees, a reflection perhaps of humanity’s place in the grand scheme of nature. We may think of the ‘Kabbalistic Tree of Life’ or Yggdrasil, the ‘Tree of the World’, in Norse mythology. The symbolism of the tree is deeply embedded in our collective consciousness. Rousseau perhaps wanted to convey an emotional and psychological connection to the simplicity of nature, to the archetypal need for shelter, and to our connection to the earth. The symbolism within this art reflects our historical ties and psychological bonds with nature, continually resurfacing, evolving and adapting to new contexts.