Outline Sketch of Tress (from Sketchbook VII) 1886

William Trost Richards made this outline sketch of trees with graphite on paper; its size is just 5 x 7 1/2 inches. During the 19th century, landscape painting was closely tied to ideas about national identity and the relationship between humanity and nature. Artists often focused on the grandeur and sublimity of the American landscape, reinforcing notions of manifest destiny and westward expansion. Richards, like many of his contemporaries, participated in this romanticized vision of nature. The sketch is an understated piece, but it serves as a reminder of the power structures inherent in landscape art. While it is a seemingly simple study of trees, it is also a reflection of the cultural values and historical narratives embedded in the depiction of nature. It is an exploration of the emotional connection we have to the natural world.