A Widely Expanding Oak Tree

About this work

This etching shows a single oak tree with sprawling branches and deep shadows. The lines dig into the paper like roots, giving the tree weight and life. You can almost feel the bark under your fingers. Carl Wilhelm Kolbe made this in 1825. He was one of the first German artists to master etching on laid paper. The grain of the paper shows through, adding texture to the leaves and bark. Look for another of Kolbe’s works in the same room at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.