Landscape 1740 - 1785

Louis Philippe Joseph, duc de Chartres, created this landscape, a testament to the enduring allure of nature. Here, the dominant visual symbol is the gnarled tree. It leans into the scene, its branches stretching like beckoning arms. The image of the tree, with its deep roots and reaching branches, is a powerful and universal symbol. Throughout history, we find it in myths from the Norse Yggdrasil to the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden. The tree has symbolized life, growth, wisdom, and the interconnectedness of all things. In antiquity, trees were seen as sacred, bridging the gap between the earthly and the divine. Similarly, the rock behind the tree symbolizes steadfastness. Consider how the tree motif reappears in later works, such as Caspar David Friedrich's solitary trees, where the tree becomes a symbol of the individual's connection to the cosmos. The image of this tree engages our collective memory, stirring something primal within us. This enduring symbol resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings, forever etched in our cultural consciousness.