Study of a Blasted Tree Trunk and Branches 1600 - 1653

Simon de Vlieger made this drawing of a blasted tree trunk and branches with pen and brown ink, brush and gray wash, and white gouache on blue paper. The support is especially interesting. Vlieger didn't use white paper, the most common choice at the time, but blue. This choice meant the artist had to add light to the image, rather than darkness. The use of the pen, brown ink and gray wash allowed Vlieger to define forms and create tonal contrast, delineating the intricate textures of the bark and broken branches. White gouache was then applied with a brush to highlight certain areas of the tree, suggesting the play of light and shadow on its surface. This is not just a casual sketch but a careful record of observation, likely intended as a study for a painting. The drawing is charged with the sense of natural forces at play. By carefully layering different materials and techniques, Vlieger transforms a simple sheet of blue paper into a study that blurs the lines between observation, artistry, and craft.