Study of a Tree
1863
Medium
Black chalk
Dimensions
10 1/16 x 8 1/8 in. (25.6 x 20.7 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Richard C. Pionk, in memory of Franz E. Spielmann, 1993
Accession Number
1993.159
Tags
Art Historical Context
Tina Blau's *Study of a Tree*1863) captures the beauty of nature in a modest yet masterful black chalk drawing. The Austrian artist (1845–1916), one of the few women to achieve prominence in 19th-century Vienna's art scene, was celebrated for her luminous landscapes and sensitive portrayals of trees. This work, measuring just 10 1/16 x 8 1/8 inches, exemplifies her budding talent at age 18, likely created as a preparatory study during her formative years. Rendered in black chalk—a medium prized for its velvety tones and ability to convey texture—Blau deftly models the tree's gnarled bark, bra...