Studies van twee boomtoppen in diverse tekenfasen c. 1820 - 1833

Here are two sketches of treetops, captured in different stages of completion by J. Bernard. The tree, a universal symbol of life and growth, appears here stripped of overt symbolic weight, yet it cannot escape its historical context. We are reminded of the Tree of Life, a motif that winds through cultures from ancient Mesopotamia to Germanic paganism. The tree connects the earthly with the divine, embodying knowledge, protection, and immortality. Note how the foliage is rendered: dense, almost cloud-like. We might recall similar depictions in Renaissance art, where the foliage of trees often formed canopies sheltering sacred scenes. This timeless symbol, constantly reborn, reminds us of the cyclical nature of existence and the enduring power of visual motifs across epochs.