Artwork
The Wild Cherry Tree
The Wild Cherry Tree is an ink print by Childe Hassam. It dates from 1918 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower right on stone: Childe Hassam 1918.; lower right in graphite: [the artist's monogram]; lower left edge in green colored pencil by unknown hand: 2031 [circled]; lower left edge in graphite by unknown hand: Wild Cherry Tree; upper left verso in graphite by unknown hand: #7; lower right verso in red colored pencil by unknown hand: [check mark]
About this work
Overview
Childe Hassam's lithograph 'The Wild Cherry Tree' presents a serene natural setting with a nude female figure partially concealed by foliage, seated against a rocky background.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork subtly explores the integration of the human form within a natural environment, suggesting a harmonious relationship between the two. The figure, half-hidden by leaves and branches, embodies this connection.
Technique & Style
Hassam utilized delicate lines and gentle shading to achieve a sense of calm and depth. The lithographic process, involving grease drawing on stone, allowed for precise control over light and shadow, contributing to the soft, naturalistic texture.
History & Provenance
One of over 200 lithographs in Hassam's oeuvre, 'The Wild Cherry Tree' demonstrates his prolific engagement with the medium. Specific provenance details for this work are not provided.
Context
Created during a period when artists increasingly explored the human form in outdoor settings, this work reflects early 20th-century artistic interests in naturalism and the figure within landscape.
Legacy
While 'The Wild Cherry Tree' may not be Hassam's most renowned work, it contributes to the broader understanding of his technical mastery of lithography and his thematic preoccupation with harmonizing human presence and nature.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Frederick Childe Hassam (; October 17, 1859 – August 27, 1935) was an American Impressionist painter, noted for his urban and coastal scenes.
A Glade of Trees
Nude Women
A Nude Reclining in a Landscape
Solitude (Solitude (Paysage))
An Old Willow by a Stream
Little Shepherd, 1st Plate (Le Petit Berger)
Study of the Allegorical Figure Bellona in Rubens' "The Apotheosis of Henri IV"
Nude Model, Standing
Nude Model Reclining
Little Shepherd, 1st Plate (Le Petit Berger)