Bosgezicht 1855

Hendrik-Dirk Kruseman Van Elten created this forest landscape, or ‘Bosgezicht’, using etching techniques. The scene presents a dense thicket bordering a creek. Notice how the trees, particularly the grand one on the left, dominate the composition. Trees have long been potent symbols across cultures, representing life, growth, and connection between earth and sky. Think of the Tree of Life, a motif spanning ancient mythologies from the Norse Yggdrasil to the biblical tree in the Garden of Eden. They each carry the weight of cultural memory, echoing through time. Here, the gnarled branches and deep roots might evoke a sense of resilience, a silent witness to history, and a place to explore the untamed depths of the self. The forest as a symbol is a complex one, and perhaps this is why, even today, its depiction can still evoke a deep, almost primal response.