The Yew at Clifton 

Thales Fielding sketched "The Yew at Clifton" with graphite, capturing an ancient yew tree. The yew, with its dark evergreen foliage and long life, has been a symbol of both death and immortality across cultures. In Celtic traditions, the yew was deeply connected to the cycles of life and death, often planted in sacred spaces. Here, its gnarled branches evoke a sense of timelessness and mystery. We see echoes of this symbolism in other works, like Caspar David Friedrich’s landscapes, where trees often represent the sublime and the transient nature of human existence. The yew's presence taps into our collective memory, stirring deep-seated emotions about mortality and resilience. This sketch invites us to contemplate the cyclical nature of life and the enduring power of symbols.