Schets van een landschap met bossage 1832 - 1897

Willem Roelofs sketched this landscape with bossage, using graphite, at an unknown date. Observe how the trees twist and bend, mirroring the organic forms that have long symbolized resilience and adaptation across cultures. Consider the significance of the ‘tree of life’ motif—found in ancient Egyptian art, Norse mythology, and even the Kabbalah—as a symbol connecting the earthly and divine realms. This symbol is also reflected in the spine, a recurring motif that transcends time and culture. This drawing invokes something primal: the forest as the archetype of the unconscious, filled with hidden paths and unknown dangers. Like a dreamscape, Roelofs' landscape invites us to project our own fears and desires onto its blurred forms. It reminds us that nature, like the human psyche, is a realm of endless transformation. The journey is not linear but cyclical, with ancient symbols constantly resurfacing and transforming.