A View across the Inn Valley to the Alps and Neubeuern c. 1790

Johann Georg von Dillis captured this vista of the Inn Valley and the Alps in watercolor. Note the prominent oak tree. It is more than just a tree; it's an ancient symbol of strength, endurance, and wisdom. We can trace its roots far back. The Celts and Germanic tribes revered the oak, associating it with their chief gods, a symbol of power that extends even to the Greek and Roman traditions, linked to Zeus and Jupiter. The oak, therefore, becomes a vessel carrying layers of historical and cultural meanings. Consider how the oak appears in countless other artworks, from heraldic crests to Romantic landscapes. Its symbolic language evolves, but the core association with steadfastness remains. The image of the oak may trigger collective memories and subconscious associations, a potent force engaging viewers on a deep, almost primal level. The oak tree, in its non-linear progression, resurfaces in different historical contexts, still echoing its ancient symbolism.