Tree Landscape (from Sketchbook)
Original title: Tree Landscape (from Sketchbook)
kurzbeschreibung
Albert Bierstadt drew this tree study in 1890 in graphite on wove paper. Several trunks and branches are set down with varying degrees of finish; there are no human figures and no other objects.
Description
A number of trunks push toward the middle of the sheet, though the arrangement never settles into symmetry. Some trees are worked out more fully than others, which suggests they stand at different distances. Graphite is the only tone; the light falls evenly, with no strong shadows or highlights. The realistic handling stresses the structure and form of the trees.
Context
By 1890 Bierstadt was long established through his large paintings of the American West. Sketchbooks like this one often served artists as study material for later work. He drew on wove paper, a common support of the period.
Impact
With every incidental element left out, attention goes to the natural growth of the trees; the mood stays quiet and collected. Delicate lines and the absence of color give the sheet an intimate, almost documentary feel and show how closely the artist observed.
Technique
Graphite on wove paper allows fine lines and precise hatching. Broad areas of shading are absent; instead the tree forms are built up through linear structures.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)