Bosgezicht 1610 - 1653

Simon de Vlieger's "Bosgezicht" is a drawing rendered with black chalk and gray wash, a serene forest scene. The trees themselves, reaching skyward, hold a significance beyond mere arboreal depiction. Consider the tree as a symbol: in ancient cultures, it bridges the earthly and the divine, its roots delving into the underworld, its branches aspiring to the heavens. Here, the trees evoke a sense of steadfastness, much like the Tree of Life, found across mythologies, representing connectedness. The forest, teeming with life yet shrouded in mystery, is often a place of transformation. Think of the fairy tales where protagonists enter a forest and emerge changed, or the myths where deities dwell within groves, a recurring motif that speaks to our collective unconscious. The emotional weight of this composition lies in its evocation of solitude and introspection. It is a visual echo of the human soul's yearning for understanding, for delving into the depths of the self. This symbol continues its non-linear journey, resurfacing time and again.