Knotwilg c. 1820 - 1833

J. Bernard created this print of a pollard willow tree, or Knotwilg, sometime in the distant past. The print depicts a tree in its natural environment, with a unique trunk, the top of which has been cut off. In certain agricultural communities, pollarding trees was a common practice. The tops of the trees were cut off, and the new growth was used for firewood and various other uses. This engraving captures the symbiosis between humans and nature. The tree is cultivated and shaped by human intervention, but it still maintains a unique identity. As you look, consider the emotional aspect of this cultivated tree. How does the artist convey the emotional weight of human intervention in nature? How does this tree maintain traditional representation or develop alternative narratives?