Wolkenlucht boven een bomengroep 1888 - 1889

Alexander Shilling captured this cloudscape above a cluster of trees in a sketch. The swirling forms of the clouds resonate with a primordial energy. The cloud motif, seen throughout art history, is a symbol deeply embedded in our collective consciousness. Think of the Renaissance depictions of the divine, where gods and angels descend from billowing clouds, or the Romantic landscapes, where clouds evoke the sublime power of nature. In ancient mythologies, clouds often served as vehicles for deities. This symbolism persists, shifting from literal divine presence to expressions of the ineffable and transcendent. Even today, we find clouds in art and media. The way they are interpreted speaks to our enduring fascination with the boundary between the earthly and the ethereal. These images tap into our deepest fears, hopes, and longings. Shilling's clouds, rendered with such expressive strokes, evoke a sense of timelessness. They remind us that visual symbols do not progress in a linear fashion but resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings across different historical contexts.