Who painted Study of Birch Trunks (Scribners')?

Study of Birch Trunks (Scribners') was painted by Jervis McEntee in 1869.

Where can I see Study of Birch Trunks (Scribners')?

Study of Birch Trunks (Scribners') is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Study of Birch Trunks (Scribners')?

Study of Birch Trunks (Scribners') is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Study of Birch Trunks (Scribners')

Jervis McEntee , 1869

Study of Birch Trunks (Scribners') is a gouache drawing by the Impressionist artist Jervis McEntee. It dates from 1869 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

The composition isolates a cluster of slender birch trunks, their pale bark marked by dark knots and scratches, set against a muted, shadowy ground.

Jervis McEntee’s 1869 drawing, *Study of Birch Trunks (Scribners)*, combines graphite and gouache on a sheet of blue wove paper. The composition isolates a cluster of slender birch trunks, their pale bark marked by dark knots and scratches, set against a muted, shadowy ground. The work reflects McEntee’s careful observation of natural forms and his interest in rendering a quiet, intimate moment in the landscape.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing focuses on a single birch tree, its multiple trunks rising from a soft, indistinct earth. By emphasizing the texture of bark and the subtle play of light and shadow, McEntee suggests the passage of time and the resilience of the tree, inviting viewers to contemplate the quiet endurance of ordinary nature rather than a dramatic vista.

Technique & Style

McEntee employed graphite for fine line work and gouache—a dense, opaque watercolor—to highlight the trunks against the blue paper. The gouache gives the bark a luminous quality, while the blue ground provides a cool, atmospheric backdrop. The handling is precise yet restrained, characteristic of the Hudson River School’s attention to detail within a modest, study-sized format.

History & Provenance

Created while McEntee was sketching in the woods near his New York home, the piece was later acquired by Scribners and entered the American Wing collection. Though McEntee is less celebrated than some of his Hudson River contemporaries, his journals and this study offer valuable insight into mid‑19th‑century American landscape practice.