Spring c. 1880

Léon Augustin Lhermitte created this etching titled "Spring," capturing a pastoral scene of figures in a blossoming orchard. The blooming trees are not merely decorative; they are potent symbols deeply rooted in cultural memory. Throughout history, the image of blossoming trees has been connected with renewal, fertility, and the cyclical nature of life. We see echoes of this in Botticelli's "Primavera," where the orchard symbolizes a rebirth of nature and, allegorically, of the human spirit. Yet, here, Lhermitte strips away the overt mythological references, presenting a more grounded, quotidian vision. But these archetypes don't die easily; even in this understated scene, the burgeoning trees, laden with blossoms, speak to our collective subconscious. They evoke a sense of hope and anticipation. This is a motif that resurfaces time and again, each time subtly reshaped by the cultural currents of its era. We might call it the "pathos formula" of rebirth, constantly evolving and re-emerging through our shared human experience.