Kale bomen bij een muurtje 1831 - 1904

Arnoud Schaepkens created this etching, "Kale bomen bij een muurtje," which translates to “Bare trees by a wall”, in the 19th century. Schaepkens lived through a time of immense social and political upheaval in Europe, including the rise of industrialization and urbanization that dramatically reshaped the landscape. In this etching, he directs our attention to the overlooked corners of the natural world. The bare trees and decaying wall evoke a sense of melancholy, reflecting the transient nature of existence. With the level of detail of the foliage and the aged decay of the wall one may consider that nature reclaims what was once built. Schaepkens challenges traditional romantic depictions of nature as sublime or picturesque. Instead, he finds beauty in the ordinary, and invites us to contemplate the beauty of decay and the passage of time. "Kale bomen bij een muurtje" prompts reflection on our relationship with nature. It encourages us to find value in the unnoticed and to recognize the beauty in decay, thereby opening up spaces for empathy and contemplation in our everyday lives.