The image shows a large, old tree with gnarled and twisted branches extending into empty space. The horizon is not visible. The artist employed a style of sketching, with lines creating a textured depiction of the bark and branches. The background is unadorned, highlighting the tree. The color palette consists of brown and gray against a tan canvas. Twigs and branches extend around the tree, with shading enhancing the dimensionality.

Gallery mode Full size at the museum

Tree Trunks

David Johnson (American, 1827 - 1908)

c. 1860s

Medium: graphite with gouache on wove paper
Classification: Drawing
Dimensions: image (irregular): 25.72 × 26.67 cm (10 1/8 × 10 1/2 in.) ; sheet: 26.99 × 36.51 cm (10 5/8 × 14 3/8 in.)
Culture: American
Museum: National Gallery of Art, CG-W
Credit line: Corcoran Collection (Museum Purchase, Membership Association Fund, 1949)
Rights: Public domain (NGA Open Access, CC0), as the museum states it.
Who can see it: Little Ones profiles and older: it shows gentle subjects for the very young. How works are placed

View at the National Gallery of Art

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