Two Men Resting by a Lake (recto); Studies for Soldiers Mounted on Horseback (verso) 1830 - 1864

Alexandre Calame’s pencil drawing presents us with two men resting by a lake, a scene brimming with understated symbolism. Dominating the composition is the gnarled tree, a motif deeply rooted in cultural memory. The tree, with its protective canopy, embodies shelter and life, echoing ancient myths where trees serve as the world’s axis, connecting earthly and spiritual realms. Note how the men are positioned, taking respite on a fallen log—a symbol of nature’s cycles of decay and rebirth. One man holds a long stick, fishing perhaps. Consider the symbolism of the fisherman, an archetype found across cultures, representing patience, sustenance, and the quest for knowledge hidden beneath the surface. The act of fishing becomes a metaphor for tapping into the subconscious, drawing forth insights from the depths of the unknown. In its stillness, this seemingly simple scene resonates with the cyclical patterns of nature and human existence, reminding us of the eternal dance between rest and action, decay and renewal.