Trees in Art

Showcasing a wide range of works from around the globe and across time, this beautifully illustrated gift book explores the tree as seen through the eyes of modern and contemporary artists. It addresses the ways twentieth and twenty-first century artists have depicted trees and their cultural significance, and explores how these imaginings have reflected changing attitudes towards ecology and environmentalism.

‘The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way.’ – William Blake

Full of life and beauty, trees are one of the most enduring and beloved subjects of art and have provided a rich source of inspiration for some of the most important artists of the recent past. From cave art and historical landscape painting to land art and contemporary environmental interventions, artists have used trees to communicate ideas that extend beyond the natural world and reflect on broader issues facing humanity. Indeed, in our advanced moment of climate crisis, the tree has taken on potent significance as a symbol for the natural environment. Trees have also provided the material for a range of artistic practices: wood for sculptures, bark and paper as a support for drawings and paintings.

A great gift for nature loving art enthusiasts, the artists featured in the book include Louise Bourgeois, Olafur Eliasson, David Hockney, Gustav Klimt, Hilma af Klint, Henri Matisse, Piet Mondrian, Yoko Ono, Wolfgang Tillmans, and Ai Weiwei, exploring a broad range of artistic approaches to the same inspiration.

• Dimensions 19.5 x 15.4 cm
• Material FSC certified paper and card
• ISBN 9781849769327
• Hardback Yes
• No of pages 160