Boomstammen aan de oever van een bergmeer 1852 - 1855

Alexandre Calame created this scene of logs on a mountain lake using lithography, a printmaking technique. At first glance, the logs seem mere objects, but they carry a weight of meaning. The fallen tree, a symbol of mortality and the transient nature of life, echoes through art history. Think of classical depictions of the "vanitas" theme, reminding us of life's fleeting beauty and inevitable decay. The toppled tree, once reaching for the sky, now rests horizontally, suggesting a fall from grace. The logs in Calame's print, however, do not merely represent death, but also rebirth. They are materials for building anew, for crossing waters. The image, therefore, engages us on a deep, subconscious level, stirring our collective memories of nature's cycles and the enduring human spirit. This symbol persists, re-emerging in modern art and culture, constantly evolving yet rooted in our shared, primal understanding of life and death.