Are There Any Famous Tree paintings?

Trees are represented throughout the history of art. They could be used as a simple decorative element in compositions, as a symbol for broader interpretations, and even as the main subjects of masterpieces. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most beautiful and famous tree paintings of all time.

The Tree of Life – Gustav Klimt

Gustav Klimt’s “Tree of Life” is a triumph of art nouveau style, unifying the allegories of the Symbolist movement with Byzantine mosaics to create one of the most famous and striking tree paintings of art history. As with many works of his Gold period, Klimt renders the subject flat, with little sense of depth, not conforming to a simple reproduction of perspective. The artist’s take on the Biblical Tree of Life incorporates essential elements of the Jugendstil. This style foregrounded floral filigree and took influence from Japanese woodblock prints.

Branches with Almond Blossom – Vincent van Gogh

Van Gogh’s “Branches with Almond Blossom” was painted between 1888 and 1890 during his time in Arles and is one of the most famous tree paintings of all time. This period, the most productive of his brief career, was driven by his adoration of the sights of the French countryside. The signs of Provence inspired Van Gogh to see in the countryside a visual parallel with the Japanese woodblocks and aesthetic styles.

A Palm Tree At Bordighera – Claude Monet

Claude Oscar Monet created “A Palm Tree At Bordighera” in 1884 when he visited the town that named the painting, which was located on the Riviera of Italy, near the border of Italy and France. He primarily intended to stay in the city for three weeks but stayed for three months. The artist was fascinated by the Mediterranean Sea and its vibrant landscapes drenched in sunlight. The artwork translates the artist’s enthusiasm with this newly found landscape filled with colorful trees.

Apple Tree With Red Fruit – Paul-Elie Ranson

Paul-Elie Ranson’s “Apple Tree With Red Fruit” is a remarkable Post-Impressionist painting by a truly distinctive and undervalued figure working at the transition point between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Ranson studied the major theological works of western and eastern religious philosophy. A firm believer in the intrinsically human urge towards symbols, Ranson prefigured many of the dominant themes of the Surrealist, Dadaist, and experimental avant-gardes.

Giant Redwood Trees of California – Albert Bierstadt

Albert Bierstadt’s “Giant Redwood Trees of California”, created in 1874, was created during the same time as the First Impressionist showing in Paris but could not offer a more contrasting view. The artist’s renderings of sweeping vistas and rolling landscapes made him the dominant figure of the Hudson River School. The artwork is an imagined depiction of a frontier landscape from an artist who firmly established the idea of the US as a promised land to Western European people. 

Four Trees – Egon Schiele

“Four Trees” was probably sketched or even fully executed while Egon Schiele served in the military. The artist was quite lucky because he was under a regiment that allowed him to work almost freely and didn’t have to face any actual combat. During those long evenings inside military installments, Egon focused on the landscape around him, a rather unusual choice for a painter primarily known for his human figures. “Four Trees” is an outstanding view of trees against a colorful sky, created during the golden hour. The sky shines and vibrates with intense color.

Women In A Garden – Pierre Auguste Renoir

One of Renoir’s primary sources of inspiration was the art and culture from East Asia – mainly the Japanese woodcut prints. These artworks explored subjects of nature and typical scenes of everyday life. With vibrant colors and unusual compositions, Japanese art imposed a strong aesthetic influence. Renoir experiments with a daring color palette in “Woman in a Garden”, changing the tonalities as the sun shines upon the landscape.

Apple Picking at Eragny-sur-Epte – Camille Pissarro

This famous masterpiece results from some of Camille Pissarro’s later years’ research. Around 1880, Pissarro began studying new techniques and new ways of creating his paintings. At this point, he took back subjects he had worked in his early years, like life on the field and rural landscapes and workers. “Apple Picking at Eragny-sur-Epte” is a beautiful example of the scientific approach to painting employed in Pointillism in which they used small patches of juxtaposed complementary colors to create the sensation of blended colors.

Solitude – Thomas Moran

This oil on canvas called “Solitude” follows Moran’s usual penchant for idyllic landscapes but breaks with his custom of identifying the actual place of the composition. This would be quite unusual for Moran since much of his work was dedicated specifically to making the Yellowstone and Yosemite names known and recognizable throughout America.

Mulberry Tree – Vincent van Gogh

After being admitted to the asylum in 1889, van Gogh spent some time in recovery. Eventually, he improved enough of his health and was granted permission to wander the outskirts of the asylum to paint. Van Gogh painted “The Mulberry Tree” in one of these outings and was very glad about the outcome. He even wrote letters to his brother Theo and sister Willemina speaking of it with great pride. This artwork is a perfect example of van Gogh’s mastery in creating complementary color schemes as he beautifully matches shades of blue and orange. 

Conclusion

We can notice that it doesn’t matter if the artwork is stylized or realistic, or if the subject is symbolic or not; trees are prolific subjects to create beautiful masterpieces. They can represent life, the power of nature, the connection between earth and sky, or simply represent a beautiful landscape. One way or another, these famous tree paintings are guaranteed to move any art lover.