Banks of the Loire (Bord de la Loire) 

Alphonse Legros etched this depiction of the Banks of the Loire, capturing the serene essence of the French countryside. The river, with its promise of the unknown, has always been a symbol of life's journey. Consider the trees, how they cluster and lean towards the water; they remind me of the wood nymphs found in ancient Greek art, beings intimately connected with the landscape. Trees, often symbols of life and nature, stand as silent witnesses, rooted yet ever-changing. They evoke the *horror pleni*, that innate fear of emptiness. Note how similar motifs reappear in other contexts across history, from the sacred groves of antiquity to the Romantic forests of German painting. Such imagery, rich in its connection to nature, touches something deep within our collective memory, a shared understanding of our place within the natural world. This landscape is not merely a place but an emotional state, a reflection of our inner selves.