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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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