Three Figures Under a Tree
William Zorach
American Art
In this drawing William Zorach abstracted the forms of a large tree and three nude figures into schematized shapes outlined with borders of parallel hatchings. The uniform treatment of humans and landscape points to the harmonious relationship he felt with nature on his annual summer retreats into the countryside. As he recalled of these idylls, “There were no problems . . . no gloomy forebodings, no literary solving of the world’s ills, only a joyous awareness of the world about us.” In addition, this drawing presents a modernist take on the traditional theme of bathers in the landscape.
MEDIUM
Graphite on beige, medium-weight, slightly textured wove paper.
DATES
1917
DIMENSIONS
Sheet: 11 1/16 x 8 1/2 in. (28.1 x 21.6 cm) (show scale)
SIGNATURE
Signed lower right in graphite: "William Zorach / 1917"
COLLECTIONS
American Art
ACCESSION NUMBER
84.46.8
CREDIT LINE
Gift of William Bloom
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
William Zorach (American, born Lithuania, 1887–1966). Three Figures Under a Tree, 1917. Graphite on beige, medium-weight, slightly textured wove paper., Sheet: 11 1/16 x 8 1/2 in. (28.1 x 21.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of William Bloom, 84.46.8. © artist or artist's estate (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 84.46.8_IMLS_PS3.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 84.46.8_IMLS_PS3.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
© Estate of William Zorach
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