Willows at a stream 

Karl Peter Burnitz captured this scene of ‘Willows at a stream’ in a drawing at an unknown date. The willows, with their slender, drooping branches, command our attention. For centuries, across cultures, the willow tree has been steeped in symbolism: often representing sorrow, mourning, and the ephemeral nature of life. The weeping willow, in particular, has been associated with tears and grief, a motif found in ancient poetry and funerary art. Yet, the willow is also a symbol of resilience and healing, owing to its ability to regenerate and thrive near water. Think of the nymph Salix, transformed into a willow tree, forever bound to the waterside in Ovid's Metamorphoses. The stream adds another layer, symbolizing the passage of time and the fluidity of existence. These natural elements invite us to contemplate our own mortality and the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth. Like the ever-flowing stream and the resilient willow, these symbols persist, carrying echoes of human emotion across generations.