The Frews 1915 - 1917

David Young Cameron etched "The Frews" as an atmospheric landscape. At first glance, the horizon and the silhouettes of trees communicate peace, but the horizon is one of art's most enduring symbols, a threshold between known and unknown. Think back to earlier landscape traditions, like those of Caspar David Friedrich, where the horizon calls to mind the sublime, an experience of awe mixed with dread. Similarly, the trees in Cameron’s landscape are reminiscent of the trees as the guardians of sacred groves, as seen in ancient Greek and Roman art. Over time, the symbolic meaning of trees has branched out, yet their connection to life, wisdom, and the cycle of nature endures. These elements work on our subconscious, subtly stirring feelings and memories. Each element is not merely a visual component, but a fragment of our shared cultural psyche. By considering these echoes, we can see how images resonate across centuries.