In this painting, Astrup skilfully blends reality with imagination, turning nature into figures that resemble human and mythical beings. The scene captures a moment when the land is still thawing from winter, with soft buds emerging on a willow, which Astrup re-imagines as a troll-like figure, complete with arms and a face gazing skyward in silent anguish. Behind it, the snow-covered mountains take on the form of a resting woman, a recurring motif in Astrup’s work. This willow was not purely imagined, but a real tree Astrup observed for years near Mount Orkja, where he carefully shaped its branches. His fascination with the mystical and the humanisation of nature is evident here, as it is in his earlier woodcut Spring Night and Willow of 1917, where he explored the same anthropomorphic theme. Astrup’s work often incorporates subtle, hidden figures, furthering his playful integration of fantasy. Through this piece, he invites viewers to see the world through a lens of wonder, where nature and human elements converge in a seamless, imaginative landscape.