Wilg 1896

Pieter Dupont created this etching entitled ‘Wilg.’ I am drawn to the solitary nature of the tree, a lone figure in a silent landscape. It evokes the Romantic tradition, where nature becomes a mirror reflecting our own emotional states. But look closer, and the image complicates itself. The tree’s gnarled trunk and bare branches speak of survival, resilience, perhaps even defiance. The wilg, or willow tree, often symbolizes sorrow or lost love in art, yet here, it stands firm. How might we read this depiction not as passive grief, but as active resistance? Consider the environmental issues of our time; does this silent sentinel become a symbol of endurance against human impact? What does this tree whisper to you about your relationship with the natural world?