Who painted Tree Trunks?

Tree Trunks was painted by David Johnson in 1864.

Where can I see Tree Trunks?

Tree Trunks is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Tree Trunks?

Tree Trunks is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Tree Trunks

David Johnson , 1864

Tree Trunks is a gouache drawing by the Impressionist artist David Johnson. It dates from 1864 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Tree Trunks is a work on wove paper attributed to American artist David Johnson, dated to around 1864. The piece combines graphite drawing with gouache pigment, presenting a study of arboreal forms rendered in a mixed‑media approach typical of mid‑nineteenth‑century draftsmanship.

Technique & Style

The artist employed graphite to outline the trunks and foliage before applying opaque gouache washes, allowing for both linear precision and subtle tonal variation. The use of wove paper provides a smooth surface that supports fine graphite lines while absorbing the gouache without excessive texture, resulting in a balanced interplay of line and color.

Context

Created during the Civil War era, the drawing reflects a period when American artists increasingly turned to natural subjects for both scientific documentation and aesthetic exploration. Johnson’s choice of medium aligns with contemporary practices that blended drawing and painting to capture detailed observations of the landscape.