Forest landscape c. 1650s - 1660s

Jan Lievens made this forest landscape drawing with pen and brown ink. The trees here are not merely botanical specimens but are potent symbols of life's cyclical nature. The depiction of trees has roots stretching back to ancient mythology, where they were revered as connections between the earthly and the divine. Consider, for instance, the World Tree, Yggdrasil, in Norse mythology or the sacred groves of the ancient Greeks. Over time, the tree motif has evolved, appearing in medieval tapestries, Renaissance paintings, and now here, in 17th-century Dutch art. The presence of resting figures in the landscape reminds me of the pastoral scenes from classical antiquity. It’s a recurring theme where man seeks solace and reflection in nature. This resonates on a deep, subconscious level, evoking a longing for simpler times, for harmony with the natural world. Lievens is not just showing us a forest, he’s tapping into a collective memory of nature as a sanctuary.