Himalayan landscape 

Xu Beihong’s “Himalayan Landscape” captures the majestic, snow-capped peaks viewed through the forest. The trees in this painting are not mere botanical specimens, but symbols deeply rooted in cultural memory. The image of trees has always been the symbol of strength and connection to the earth. This composition, in particular, echoes the classical motif of the "Tree of Life," found in various cultures. Consider the Norse Yggdrasil or the sacred trees depicted in ancient Mesopotamian art. Here, the trees are a living, breathing link between the earthly and the divine, a concept not too dissimilar from the axis mundi. This motif has traveled through time, evolving from literal representations to symbolic expressions of spiritual ascent, acting as a psychological mirror reflecting our subconscious desires for stability, growth, and transcendence. It is a non-linear, cyclical progression, that resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different historical contexts.