Drie foto's van landschappen in het Geuldal 1942 - 1949

In these three silver gelatin prints from September 1942, Norbert van den Berg captures the Geuldal landscapes. Dominant are the trees, nature's stoic witnesses, which have been venerated across cultures, embodying life, growth, and connection between heaven and earth. Consider the 'Tree of Life,' a motif stretching from ancient Mesopotamian art to the Kabbalistic traditions. Van den Berg’s trees evoke a similar sense of rootedness and aspiration. Even the presence of cattle grazing introduces the pastoral theme that connects us back to the Arcadian visions of artists like Claude Lorrain. Here, cattle symbolize peace and bounty. Yet, these idyllic symbols are viewed through the lens of 1942, the height of World War II. The subconscious might yearn for such pastoral simplicity as an escape from contemporary turmoil. Perhaps Van den Berg has unconsciously revealed our collective desire for peace in chaotic times. The landscapes possess a quiet melancholy, as though aware of the world beyond their serene borders. Such imagery is non-linear, resonating with cultural memory, and resurfacing in different guises to fulfill the human need for symbols of hope and continuity.