the oak – the oak sovereign among the trees – art book – by © peter gartmann – art photography – art picture collection susanne minder

book – the oak – die eiche

art photography – by © Peter Gartmann

The Oak – Sovereign among the Trees

The tree is a symbol of constant regeneration, fertility, vitality and eternal life. It is a source of nourishment. And of protection. With the longing for rebirth and immortality rooted deeply in the human soul, for many cultures and religions, the tree has not surprisingly played a major role as an archetypical symbol of life. Especially the oak.

For thousands of years humans have associated the oak tree with energy, power, strength and immortality. This high symbolic value accorded to the oak meant that for many cultures it was the tree of trees, their monarch.

If we think about an oak tree, the typical picture that rises before our eyes is of a powerful and old specimen, with a thick trunk, fissured bark and gnarled branches. Standing alone in an open filet, defying gales and tempests, its crown rises fearlessly into the sky. Ready for the next flash of lightning. And an oak may indeed be hit. For two reasons. First, because oaks often stand alone or at large distances from other trees. It is a light-hungry tree: without adequate space and light an oak’s development will be stunted. Secondly, oaks like growing over underground watercourses, which they penetrate with their long tap roots. However, even if the tree is hit by lightning, loses its crown, and the trunk is split, it will remain standing, staunch and dignified, for many more decades.

more pictures – by peter gartmann – on instagram

www.instagram.com/petergartmann_art

book: The Oak – Die Eiche

black-and-white photographs        © Peter Gartmann, Basel – Switzerland

colour panoramic photographs     © Peter Gartmann, Basel – Switzerland

colour photographs                         © Sabina Roth, Basel – Switzerland

concept + design                               Peter Gartmann, Basel – Switzerland

publisher                                            Urs Breitenstein, Bottmingen – Switzerland

Text in English: book – the Oak – Sovereign among the trees

Text in Deutsch: Buch – die Eiche – Königin aller Bäume

All the photographs were taken in the oakwood-pasture at Wildenstein, Bubendorf – basel-country – Switzerland.

further pictures and artworks – by peter gartmann – look at susanne minder art collection

see also art photography from the series – die eiche – naturschutzgebiet wildenstein – by sabina roth – art + photography, switzerland – art picture collection susanne minder

look also at art photography from the series – the oak – oak trees in winter – by peter gartmann + sabina roth – art + photography, switzerland – art picture collection susanne minder

see also art photography from the series – magic forest – nebelzauber – by sabina roth – art + photography, switzerland – art picture collection susanne minder

check also art photography from the series – the skin of the trees – die haut der bäume – by peter gartmann + sabina roth – art + photography, switzerland – art picture collection susanne minder