In the world of art, trees have long been an integral part of painting, mysteriously intertwined with symbolism and mysteriously penetrating into the very depths of cultural heritage. From ancient times to the present day, artists have depicted trees on canvas, embodying various aspects of life, death, growth and transformation through their curves, foliage and roots. In this context, exploring the symbolic meaning of trees in painting becomes a fascinating guide into the world of secret messages and emblematic images, especially when the shadow of sacred groves shines. Let's dive into the depths of forest mysticism and reveal the secrets that artists carefully weave into their canvases.
The art of trees: Decoding the symbols of their pictorial embodiment
"Trees are not only a material for my paintings. They are the embodiment of life, a symbol of cyclicality and eternity." - Arthur Carlson
The most visible symbol of growth, seasonal dying and rebirth, the tree has always been more than part of the landscape. Since ancient times, it has become an integral element of folklore, and even today, among some nationalities, the tree is a totem, the mythical ancestor of the tribe. “Sacred trees” had magical properties inherent in their very nature. Maybe some of this magic is also inherent in canvases depicting trees? Different trees symbolize different qualities, emphasizing the overall meaning of the painting.
Already by its very structure, the tree represented the primary ideas about the structure of the universe: the roots are the underworld, the trunk is earthly, the crown is the sky. How many heroes of folklore have reached heaven, climbing there through the branches? That is why the most common symbol - the Tree of Life - organically entered into the visual culture and represents the basis of traditional ornaments of most peoples. With the help of the Tree of Life, humanity rises to spiritual enlightenment and salvation.
It is believed that medieval images of Christ crucified on a tree, and not on a cross, are related precisely to this, more ancient than Christian, symbolism, as for example depicted in the fresco by Taddeo Gaddi “The Tree of Life” (circa 1360) Florence, Church of Santa Croce, Baroncelli Chapel.
The persistence of botanical memory
“Every branch of a tree contains the wisdom of centuries, and every leaf contains a story about life and its endless transformations.” - Emilia Santos
The figurative language of Christianity absorbed and transformed pagan symbolism. Since the bulk of believers were illiterate at best, in order to convey the meaning of Holy Scripture, clear interpretations of every detail depicted on the icon were needed. As a result, a kind of botanical atlas was formed. For example, acacia symbolizes the purity of the Immaculate; almonds - divine approach; cedar - Christ; chestnut - chastity; ligature - nobility and devotion; spruce - patience; lemon - fidelity in love; olive tree - peace; orange flower - purity, chastity and generosity; reed - humility and symbol of the passion of Christ; willow - Holy Scripture.
The palm branch often accompanies images of allegories of Victory and Glory honoring the victors, and, of course, means victory. In Christianity, the palm tree is considered a symbol of salvation and heavenly life, and, as a rule, is present in the scene of the Entry into Jerusalem. Thus, in the painting “The Baptism of Christ,” painted by the young Leonardo da Vinci together with his teacher Andrea del Verrochio, a palm tree is depicted in the background as a symbol of salvation.
The olive was depicted as a symbol of hope for peace, a happy family life and measured work - especially by artists creating in an era of constant wars and epidemics. Moreover, according to biblical legend, it was the olive branch that was brought by the dove after the flood as a sign of rebirth. In the work of the representative of the Siena school Neroccio di Landi, “The Annunciation” (c. 1475).
Archangel Gabriel simply blesses the Virgin Mary - he has nothing in his hands. But on the floor there is a vase with a lily flower, and in the distance there are olive trees: a symbol of peace, a symbol of the Savior. In the works of many masters of the Siena school you can see a rare image of the Archangel Gabriel with an olive branch in his hand.
Iconographic paintings sometimes depicted the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem with an olive rather than a palm branch in his hands. Also, prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane and the Ascension of Jesus take place on the Mount of Olives, so many artists loved to depict the Gardens of Olives in the future, such as Vincent Van Gogh.
But Salvador Dali, as a true surrealist, interpreted the meaning of the olive in his own way: in the painting “The Persistence of Memory” the dry tree is a symbol of ancient wisdom, which, unfortunately, has already become antiquity.
A fig tree, according to accepted tradition, means lust or fertility. The story goes that Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of Rome, were nursed by a she-wolf in the shade of this particular tree, and it is considered a symbol of the prosperity of the Roman state.
And in Christian iconography, this noble tree means heresy: as you know, Christ placed a curse on the fig tree, on which he found no fruit, after which it withered. Already in classical art, according to legend, Adam and Eve were covered with fig tree leaves.
The meaning of the symbolism of the leaves and branches of the laurel has survived thousands of years and has remained unchanged and unambiguous to this day: honor and glory.
Myrtle, the sacred tree of the goddess Venus, gained popularity during the Renaissance with the rise of secular painting. The attribute of the goddess of love can be seen in the painting by Titian Veccelio (1488−1576) “Earthly Love and Heavenly Love” (1515). For example, when ordering a painting by Pietro Perugino (1452−1523), Isabella d'Este (1474−1539), wife of the Margrave of Mantua, patron of the arts, described in detail in a letter what was to be depicted in the painting “The Battle of Love and Chastity” (Louvre, 1503−1505) : “Behind Venus let there be myrtle, as the tree most dear to her.”
Juniper is a symbol of virtue and purity. Leonardo da Vinci in “Portrait of Ginevra de Benci” (1478−1480), as a true Renaissance artist, used the symbolic meaning of the plant with jewelry ingenuity. The face of a young woman is written against the background of a juniper bush. In Italian, juniper sounds like ginerpo, which hints at the name of the heroine - Ginevra.
The pine tree is considered a symbol of death: once cut down, it never sprouts again. In addition, any plant growing nearby quickly dies.
Oak has been revered by all peoples at all times for its strength and durability. From the Druids, who glorified oak trees in sacred oak forests, to the ancient Greeks and Romans. Christianity gave the oak a special meaning - it became a symbol of Christ. Oak can also symbolize the persistence of faith during trials.
Perhaps this is exactly what Raphael had in mind when depicting a powerful green handsome man in the canvas “The Holy Family under the Oak” (1518).
The world-famous Mamvri Oak, which preserves the memory of a biblical event (the appearance of the Lord to Abraham), is traditionally depicted on almost all icons or frescoes depicting the Holy Trinity.
The biblical monument was also captured by the Russian academician Karl Bryullov (“The Appearance of Three Angels to Abraham at the Oak of Mamre,” 1821), “At the Oak of the Virgin Mary,” 1835). By the way, the Mamrean Oak still stands in the city of Hebron, in the Palestinian Authority, only already withered, and in churches they still sell souvenirs supposedly made from sacred wood.
Death and Rebirth in the World of Trees: Paintingsque Symbols of Growth and Rebirth
"Among the branches and roots I find metaphors for my own experiences. Trees are a mirror of the soul of nature and man." - Leonardo Silvestri
A special place in the symbolism of European artists is occupied by the image of a dry tree.
Thus, in the painting “Prayer of the Cup” by Andrea Mantegna (1431−1506), a dry tree with a vulture clearly indicates a tragic outcome, and a green branch indicates an imminent resurrection.
Three stumps indicate an impending crucifixion. Behind the students is a young tree - a symbol of new life. This tradition was organically adopted by Caspar David Friedrich (1774−1840) at the beginning of the 19th century. A fan of ancient forests, Caspar Friedrich enthusiastically began to depict old trees (“Oak in Winter”, “Old Oak with a Stork’s Nest”).
Dried, with broken branches - in the artist’s work they embodied the finitude of human life and, in accordance with Christian tradition, are often adjacent to young greenery. The cross in the paintings of the German romantic is always surrounded by evergreens (“Cross in the Mountains”, “Winter Landscape”).
Soul alive
In the 19th century, artists began to introduce drama and emotional overtones into the landscape and express their innermost feelings. In the same work of Friedrich Caspar, intertwined tree branches signify the rapprochement of human souls. For example, in “White Cliffs on Rügen” (1818−1819), the trees leaning towards each other symbolize the happy union of the artist with his wife.
The tree on the canvas by Maxim Vorobyov (1787−1855) “An Oak Broken by Lightning” looks fantastic. The force of rock struck the dark background of the painting and broke the powerful oak tree into pieces. This is how the artist expressed the pain of losing his wife.
Also widely known is Ivan Shishkin’s painting “Among the Flat Valley” (1882), painted by him a year after the sudden death of his beloved wife. He was very worried about the loss and, walking through the valley, he saw an oak tree in which he recognized himself: lonely, but not broken by storms and adversity. His canvas “A felled oak in Belovezhskaya Pushcha” (1892) evokes a different feeling: it feels like a living being was killed...
Naive Frida
The Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (1907−1954) interprets the image of her connection with the outside world in her own way. Her style is sometimes characterized as naive art. She depicted herself entwined with roots, as if she were part of nature, which was supposed to absorb her. A continuator of folk tradition, she sees in a new way the literal connection between plants and humans. For example, the portrait of the botanist Luther Burbank (1931) and the work “Roots” (1943) are read simply straightforwardly.
Garden of the Celestial Empire
A slightly different aesthetic cult of wood exists in Chinese painting. In the art of the Celestial Empire, the most popular plant is the willow, as a symbol of modest beauty and sophistication, a sign of spring in nature, an attribute of the goddess of motherhood Guanyin.
Pine is also a favorite subject of Chinese artists because it represents both Confucian restraint and fortitude and the Taoist ideal of “usefulness of the useless” (the wood is curved, knotty and unsuitable for crafts).
Artists of all times and peoples have shown the special symbolism of trees, and knowing about the hidden meaning of the image, you can look at many famous works differently.
In conclusion, exploring the symbolism of trees in painting reveals a wonderful world of mystery where every branch, leaf and root carries deep meanings. Trees on the canvas become not only artistic objects, but also metaphors for life, death and the eternal cycle. In the shadow of sacred groves, these symbols acquire a special magic, reminding us of the eternity of natural cycles and spiritual energy.
Death and rebirth, expressed through images of trees, indicate the importance of cyclicality in life. As trees experience seasons of change, they witness not only their own growth and decline, but also a reflection of human experience. This artistic journey through the life and death of trees allows us to reflect on the deeper aspects of the essence of life, inspiring us to rethink our own role in the endless dance of life and creation.
Welcome to our unique catalog, where each painting is not just a work of art, but a deep immersion into the world of symbols and ideas. Our collection includes works related to religion, where trees become an integral part of spiritual landscapes. From sacred groves to symbolic trees of life, each painting reveals unique aspects of faith and transcendence.
The philosophical works in our catalog invite the viewer to think about the deep issues of life and existence. Trees, being symbols of growth and transformation, open up new perspectives on the eternal themes of human philosophy. Reflecting the cycles of nature in art reminds us of the continuous flow of time and the wisdom inherent in each branch.
Our catalog also includes a variety of genres where trees serve as inspiration for artistic expression. From forest landscapes and nature paintings to abstractions where the shapes of trees become elements of the composition, we have pieces for every taste.
We invite you on a journey through this unique world of art, where trees become not only objects of image, but also deep symbols that reveal to you the multifaceted face of nature and human existence.