Who painted Trees in a Storm?

Trees in a Storm was painted by Alexandre Calame in 1840.

Where can I see Trees in a Storm?

Trees in a Storm is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Trees in a Storm?

Trees in a Storm is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Trees in a Storm?

Museum-quality prints of Trees in a Storm are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Trees in a Storm

Alexandre Calame , 1840

Trees in a Storm is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Alexandre Calame. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Alexandre Calame’s 1840 print, titled *Trees in a Storm*, is an etching executed on chine collé. The composition centers on a solitary, twisted tree rooted in a shallow, stony stream, its bark and foliage rendered with meticulous line work. Dark, looming clouds dominate the sky, while distant silhouettes of additional trees mark the horizon, establishing a stark, atmospheric landscape.

Subject & Meaning

The image captures a moment of impending turbulence, with the lone tree appearing both resilient and vulnerable amid the gathering storm. The rippling water around its roots and the oppressive sky suggest a tension between natural forces and the endurance of the individual element, inviting contemplation of nature’s power and the fragility of life within it.

Technique & Style

Calame employed fine, intersecting lines to delineate bark texture, leaf edges, and water movement, exploiting the etching process to achieve a high level of detail. The chine collé support adds a smooth, thin paper layer that enhances tonal subtlety, allowing delicate gradations of darkness that convey the looming clouds and the reflective surface of the stream.

History & Provenance

Created in 1840, the work reflects Calame’s early engagement with printmaking as a means of disseminating his landscape studies. While specific ownership records are sparse, the piece is documented in catalogues of 19th‑century Swiss prints and has been referenced in scholarly surveys of Calame’s oeuvre, underscoring its role in his development as a landscape artist.