Who painted Old Tree?

Old Tree was painted by Thomas Hearne in 1803.

Where can I see Old Tree?

Old Tree is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Old Tree?

Old Tree is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Old Tree

Thomas Hearne , 1803

Old Tree is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Thomas Hearne. It dates from 1803 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

The artist used a sharp pen and dark ink to carve lines that look like wood.

This print shows an old tree with gnarled roots and twisted branches. Its rough bark catches the light, making shadows that feel almost real. The artist used a sharp pen and dark ink to carve lines that look like wood.

This style isn’t as common as paintings, but it’s just as detailed. Lithography prints an image from a flat stone, not a raised plate. Hearne made this in 1803, early for the technique.

Try lithography next by looking up Hearne, Thomas.

Overview

Old Tree is a pen-and-tusche lithograph created by Thomas Hearne in 1803.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts an aged tree with twisted branches and gnarled roots, its rugged bark highlighted by contrasting light and shadow, achieved through the artist's use of sharp lines and dark ink.

Technique & Style

The work showcases the detail achievable in lithography, a printmaking technique that involves transferring an image from a flat stone. Hearne's use of this relatively early method demonstrates its potential for nuanced representation.