Bomen langs een pad in Rhenen Possibly 1878

Willem Witsen made this drawing, "Trees Along a Path in Rhenen," with a soft pencil, capturing a scene where nature itself becomes a symbol. The trees, standing tall and close together, immediately bring to mind the concept of the sacred grove, a motif deeply rooted in ancient cultures. In many traditions, groves were places of worship, sites where humans sought connection with the divine through the natural world. Consider how the path itself, winding invitingly into the depths of the forest, mirrors the labyrinthine paths of the human psyche. In classical mythology, labyrinths are often associated with initiation rites or spiritual quests. Similarly, here, the path evokes a sense of journey, the possibility of finding clarity or self-discovery amidst the complexities of life. The trees themselves become symbolic guardians of this space, each stroke of the pencil imbuing them with a sense of watchfulness, not unlike the stoic figures of ancient mythology.