Gezicht op een kamer, gebouwd rondom een boomstam before 1886

George Fiske's image captures a room built around a tree trunk, a peculiar embrace of nature within domesticity. The most striking symbol is the word "WELCOME" emblazoned across the tree trunk. This greeting echoes ancient customs where trees were sacred, sheltering spirits, and offering protection. Think of the Roman Lares, household deities whose shrines were often near the hearth, symbolizing welcome and sanctuary. In this image, the tree assumes that role, literally becoming the heart of the home. Yet, the "WELCOME" isn't just a friendly gesture; it's a performance. This image invites us to consider how we construct ideas of home and hospitality. We might recall the medieval "Tree of Jesse," a visual representation of Christ's lineage, here playfully subverted. It's no longer about divine ancestry, but about domestic comfort and a commodified nature. The emotional power lies in the tension between the raw, untamed forest and the constructed, comforting interior, suggesting how deeply we yearn to reconcile nature with our constructed environments. This cyclical return to the image of the tree, now branded with a sales pitch, reveals the ever-shifting dance between nature, culture, and commerce in our collective consciousness.