Gezicht van de Butte; bomen rechts 1773 - 1843

Georges Michel rendered this sketch, "Gezicht van de Butte; bomen rechts" using graphite, capturing a landscape with trees to the right. The trees, sturdy and clustered, echo motifs found in classical landscapes. Consider the ‘arbor vitae,’ or tree of life, an ancient symbol found across cultures from the Assyrians to the Kabbalists, often representing immortality and the interconnectedness of all things. Notice how the rendering of the trees here evoke a sense of shelter, a common symbolic association. Michel's trees invite a sense of contemplation and connection to the natural world, similar to the landscapes of Poussin or Lorrain. The image presents an opportunity to consider how our responses to these natural forms are deeply rooted in a collective memory, constantly evolving yet perpetually resonant.