Guardian of the Forest

This carved wooden statue of John La Gerche, a historic figure known for his work as a forest bailiff in Creswick, Australia, is artistically sculpted from a large tree stump, making it appear as though La Gerche is emerging from the trunk itself. He is depicted sitting calmly, wearing a hat, long coat, and boots, with a long beard and hands resting on his lap. The sculpture is set in a woodland environment, surrounded by dense trees and natural undergrowth, giving the impression that La Gerche is still keeping watch over the forest he helped protect. The black-and-white or grayscale filter used in the image lends it a timeless, almost ethereal quality.