Gewässser an einer Felserhebung 

This drawing of a waterscape on a rocky hill was composed by Franz Kobell in the 18th century. The scene is dominated by the natural world: trees, water, rocks, and distant mountains. Consider the symbolic role of the trees, depicted as guardians of the landscape. In ancient cultures, trees were often seen as conduits between the earthly and the divine, echoing the symbolism found in the Tree of Life motifs across various mythologies. This symbol is found in ancient Assyrian carvings, and later the Norse Yggdrasil. We see the tree represented in countless iterations throughout history, each reflecting a culture’s deepest beliefs and values. There is an underlying emotional and psychological element at play, a deeply-seated connection to nature that evokes a sense of peace, tranquility, and our innate desire to return to nature. This archetype is embedded in our collective memory, subconsciously influencing how we perceive and interact with nature. This archetype and its motifs reflect a continuous, cyclical progression, surfacing in various forms across different eras, adapting and evolving with each retelling.