Eucalyptus, Mont Alban 1918

Henri Matisse captured a landscape in *Eucalyptus, Mont Alban*, using oil on canvas with a clear fascination for its natural setting. The painting draws our eye to the towering eucalyptus trees which, in their upward thrust, carry echoes of the Tree of Life – an ancient symbol revered across cultures. Consider its presence, not just as a botanical specimen, but as a profound emblem of growth, healing, and connection to both earth and sky. The motif transcends epochs, reminding us of similar arboreal venerations in ancient mythologies. Like the World Tree of Norse legend, it embodies a bridge between different realms of existence. Matisse seems to suggest a perennial vitality of nature. And through the evocative power of these symbols, we are reminded of the enduring, cyclical progression of cultural memory.