Duinlandschap 1880 - 1882

George Hendrik Breitner sketched this landscape using graphite on paper. It depicts a building facade and the verticality of the trees. Trees, as motifs, echo through time, symbolizing growth and connection to the earth. Recall the tree of life in ancient mythologies, a powerful symbol of interconnectedness between the heavens, earth, and underworld. Over time, the symbol of the tree has become increasingly complex, now representing ecological awareness. The vertical lines of the trees and buildings also serve as symbols of upward aspiration, the human desire to reach for something beyond our immediate grasp. These forms trigger a deeply embedded psychological response, engaging us in an almost primal way. They remind us that symbols are not static but are cyclical, resurfacing and evolving in meaning across different eras.