Artwork
Landscape with Fallen Tree
Landscape with Fallen Tree is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Charles Volkmar. It dates from 1875 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Charles Volkmar’s 1875 etching presents a dense woodland scene dominated by a massive fallen tree that spans a shallow stream. The composition draws the eye along the water’s edge, where two diminutive figures stand, while a modest structure emerges faintly among the trees in the background.
Subject & Meaning
The work captures a moment of natural disruption, the overturned trunk suggesting both the passage of time and the impact of environmental forces. The presence of human figures and a distant building introduces a subtle dialogue between humanity and the untamed forest.
Technique & Style
Executed entirely in black on wove paper, the image relies on intricate line work to convey texture—rough bark, tangled foliage, and rippling water. Volkmar employed the etching process, incising the design onto a metal plate and then printing the reversed image, achieving a range of tonal values without color.
History & Provenance
Created in 1875, the print reflects the 19th‑century European interest in detailed landscape studies. While specific ownership records are limited, the piece is documented as part of Volkmar’s printed oeuvre, illustrating his engagement with the etching medium during that period.
Artist & collection
