Blasted Tree
1850
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
1850
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
A gnarled tree trunk fills the canvas, its twisted branches clawing at the sky. The bark is rough, the colors shifting from deep brown to silvery gray. Cropsey painted this outdoors, not in his studio, so the details feel immediate—like you could reach out and touch the weathered wood. He focused on the tree’s textures, letting light and shadow play across its surface. This wasn’t just a study; it was a way to show nature’s raw beauty. If you like this, look up the technique called *impasto*—thick paint that makes brushstrokes stand out.
