The Fallen Tree 1750 - 1753

Thomas Gainsborough's "The Fallen Tree" (1750-1753) is a landscape painting showcasing the artist's signature loose brushstrokes and atmospheric light. The central focus of the painting is a fallen tree trunk, around which a group of figures and cattle gather. The composition, reminiscent of Dutch landscape painting, is characterized by a sense of tranquility and a meticulous depiction of nature, with a distant village adding a hint of human presence to the scene. This painting exemplifies Gainsborough's shift toward landscape as a significant subject matter, setting the stage for his later masterpieces in the genre.