Study of a tree (1988)

Dated 1988, "Study of a tree" is an artwork by Edwin Austin Abbey. Background on Drawings: Artists have long used drawings to plan paintings, sculptures, and buildings, so a sketch can show how an idea developed. Because line carries so much of the effect, drawings tend to reward close looking at the quality of the mark. Context for 1988: Photography, film, and print culture became part of the language of art, and artists across the world developed their own responses to modernism. The range of materials widened to include acrylic paint, screen printing, and mixed media. The catalogue places it in Drawings. The format is portrait.

Buying "Study of a tree" means getting a digital file, not a physical print: Digital JPEG + PDF files, 300 DPI, delivered by email once payment is confirmed. A 300 DPI file is intended for printing at home or at a local print shop, where you can choose a matte, satin, or fine-art paper to suit the room. A portrait format suits narrow wall spaces, hallways, and the area beside a door or window. Drawings and sketches stand out through line clarity and a sense of the artist process, which makes them a natural fit for minimalist, monochrome, and graphic interiors. A simple frame with a mat often helps an image settle comfortably into a room. Screens and printers render colour differently, so a small test print is a sensible way to check tones before committing to a large size. Hang the print away from direct sunlight, which over the years can fade any printed colour. Choosing a standard frame size and printing to fit it often saves the cost of custom framing.

American, 1852–1911

If you like the visual language of Edwin Austin Abbey, explore more works by the same artist in our collection.