Berkenbomen, mogelijk in de tuin van het landgoed Ewijckshoeve 1885 - 1931

Willem Bastiaan Tholen rendered this sketch of birch trees, possibly in the garden of Ewijckshoeve estate, using a pencil. Note the trees, symbols of growth and resilience. They are not merely botanical specimens but resonate with deeper meanings, echoing through art history. Think of the tree of life, present in countless cultures, from ancient Mesopotamia to modern-day allegories. It is a motif that embodies the connection between heaven and earth, mortality and immortality. In Tholen's sketch, the trees stand tall, and their bare branches remind us of winter and nature's capacity for both strength and vulnerability. This symbolism is not static; in the Renaissance, for instance, trees often represented familial lineage and moral virtues, yet their roots reach further back. The image connects with our collective memory of nature's cycles and our place within them. The subconscious is stirred; we are reminded of our own roots, growth, and the inevitable passage of time, a powerful force engaging viewers on a subconscious level. We see the cyclical progression of nature.