Bosgezicht met twee figuren 1854 - 1879

Jules Marie Armand Goethals created this forest scene using etching techniques. Observe how the trees form a cathedral-like space, drawing our eyes towards a distant light. The forest, since antiquity, has been a place of mystery, transformation, and the unconscious. Think of the forests in fairy tales, where characters undergo trials and self-discovery. Even the figures, dwarfed by the trees, seem to be on a pilgrimage. This motif of figures in a forest setting appears across cultures, from the nymphs in classical mythology to wanderers seeking enlightenment in Eastern traditions. The shadowy forest taps into our collective memory, evoking a sense of primordial awe. The trees become more than mere plants; they are silent witnesses to the passage of time. Their branches, gnarled and reaching, echo the human desire for connection and understanding. The forest is a repository of hidden knowledge, a place where the boundaries between reality and imagination blur.