“Abbey in the Oak Forest” is 19th century painting. At first glance it as a very ominous vibe. When I first looked at it. It immediately caused me to the of death. It also caused to think of loneliness, emptiness and other negative traits. Upon looking further, I see that it was once a church that is now in ruins. I think its trying to portray something that once was and now lacks what it used to be. Possibly this meant to illustrate the power of religion in modern day culture. Once a force to be reckoned that everyone followed. Now only a fragment of that power really remains, we now have separation of church and state. This site has been abandoned for many years maybe even centuries. What now sits on its remains appears to be a cemetery. For some reason this all seems very mystical to me. As I look at I see themes of horror and possible magic. I half way expect to see a dead body rise from the ground. Why is that? it is because of the perfection of it. Everything looks so organized. The perfect shape of the remaining tree branches, the lack of leaves. The contrasting colors that start from light and deepen into a dark shadow. I think that represents what is down below. What was once a shining light is now covered in darkness and plagued by death. All thats left now is the memory of what once.