Winterlandschap met een kerktoren op de achtergrond 1612 - 1687

Cornelis van Veen created this tiny landscape with etching. It depicts a wintry scene, where the bare tree stands as a potent symbol of dormancy and potential rebirth. Its stark branches reach skyward, a silent echo of the church tower in the background, both piercing the heavens. The motif of a barren tree juxtaposed with human activity—figures skating, bending, and walking—resonates across centuries. From medieval depictions of the Tree of Jesse to Caspar David Friedrich's solitary oaks, the tree embodies nature’s cyclical rhythms and humanity’s place within them. Consider, too, the stooping posture of the figure in the foreground. This posture, reminiscent of the "pensieroso" or pensive man, is an attitude found in ancient Roman sculptures, later revived during the Renaissance as the symbol of melancholia. Here, in this frozen landscape, the artist draws upon this deep-seated cultural memory, perhaps unconsciously, to evoke a sense of reflection and the human condition against the backdrop of winter’s starkness. This image quietly engages us, linking past and present through enduring symbols.