Landschap met bomen Possibly 1906 - 1909

Willem Witsen sketched this landscape with trees using graphite on paper. Dominating the composition, the trees are more than mere botanical studies; they are vessels of cultural memory, their branches reaching skyward, reminiscent of the Tree of Life, a symbol echoing through ancient mythologies and religious iconography. We see it mirrored in the Norse Yggdrasil, connecting realms, and in the Garden of Eden, laden with forbidden knowledge. Consider the gesture of upward reach, a motif found in countless religious artworks, from praying figures to the reaching hands in Michelangelo's Creation. This striving towards the heavens transcends mere depiction; it taps into our collective yearning for transcendence. The psychological weight of such symbols cannot be overstated. They engage us on a primal level, stirring subconscious associations and inviting contemplation of our place within the grand tapestry of existence. Like a recurring dream, these images resurface, evolving and adapting, yet retaining their fundamental power to evoke awe, fear, and a profound sense of connection to the past.