Reflections On Dutch & Flemish Painting
Upon first look, Dutch and Flemish paintings of the 17th century are seemingly straightforward. However, this could not be further from the truth. The landscapes are highly representational and contain many biblical allusions. Trees are particularly noteworthy. Trees as well as forests are symbolic of the transience and brevity of the life of man. They often allude to the Gospels of the bible. In the Gospel of Matthew 7, Christ says that “every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by t [...] read more →