An old tree 1859

Lagorio painted ‘An Old Tree’ with oil on canvas. At its heart is a powerful symbol: the tree. The tree appears in ancient mythologies and religions, often as the Tree of Life. It embodies the cycle of birth, death, and regeneration. This image encapsulates nature’s enduring vitality. Lagorio isn’t just showing us a dying tree; he’s reminding us of life's persistence, of nature’s ability to renew itself. Think of the ancient Egyptians and their reverence for trees, or Norse mythology’s Yggdrasil, the immense tree central to their cosmos. Even the Christian cross, initially a symbol of death, becomes a tree of life, a source of salvation. Across cultures, the tree bridges the earthly and the divine. This image may evoke the subconscious fear of mortality, but also hope. The tree—damaged yet standing—represents a collective memory, a symbol of resilience passed down through generations, evolving yet constant. It’s a reminder that life, like art, persists and transforms.