Tree Paintings for Sale

In painting, just as in poetry, trees bend but do not break. They offer an array of symbolism: the tree of life, of knowledge, the world's axis and symbol of evolution. They are an omnipresent figure, constant throughout the shifting eras and dominating canvases with their overwhelming grandeur. Trees are as compelling to painters as they are to viewers, seeming to extend their branches almost into the heavens.

For a long time, the tree was only represented as a biblical symbol, the catalyst in the fall of man. Later, in classical paintings, the tree was often relegated to a background object, serving only to prop up other, more important subjects, although some artists like Poussin did make them the focus. Cézanne's The Great Pine, however, is perhaps the best example of a composition entirely dedicated to the tree as a subject, they fill the frame with solid trunks and thick, twisting branches. In a landscape, trees are a sign of splendour and power, towering over the tiny figures of men. In Rubens' The Tempest, they are almost threatening.   

The splendour of trees in paintings is greatly affected by the arrangement of the rest of the composition. Sometimes trees seems to support the canvas, marking out the confines of the space. Many painters use trees to give an indication of perspective and depth in the canvas, such as Hodler's Autumn Evening. Trees can also be used to give an indication of where the painting is set: palm trees indicate an exotic setting, lending the canvases an edge of luxury and excitement – as seen in the work of Douanier Rousseau.  

The tree can also serve as a metaphor, signifying strength, rootedness, and a sort of natural power that – like even the strongest man – can still end up broken. Anselm Kieffer painted his canvas Varus in memory of the atrocities suffered by Germany in the 20th century; the composition depicts a bloodied forest in reference to the Roman war featured in Tacitus' Germania. The tree can also stand as a symbol for the ceaseless changing of the seasons, often placed in parallel to the human cycle of life. While Hokusai honoured the magnificent cherry blossoms of his native Japan, Monet repeatedly painted his gardens at Giverny, often under the bright light of full summer. Autumn, with its shimmering colours, crisp light, and myriad textures, is an unfailing source of inspiration for artists. Most recently artists have taken to abstracting the form of trees, stripping them back to their most basic elements, like in the works of Raoul Dufy.


In contemporary art, the motif of a tree is most often found in sculpture and installation art because it's so easy to translate into three dimensional media. Traditional art has yet to let trees go, though, and you need to look no further than Mondrian's canvases to see that trees remain a vital element of art history. Browse Artsper's collection of art centred around trees.

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Painting, Paysage fleuri, S. M.

Paysage fleuri

S. M.

Painting - 26.5 x 41 x 0.5 cm Painting - 10.4 x 16.1 x 0.2 inch

CHF 860

Painting, Bise sur le lac, Haag

Bise sur le lac

Haag

Painting - 46 x 55 x 2 cm Painting - 18.1 x 21.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,190

Painting, L'étang, Ludwig Bürgel

L'étang

Ludwig Bürgel

Painting - 30.5 x 40.5 x 0.5 cm Painting - 12 x 15.9 x 0.2 inch

CHF 1,350

Painting, Autumn, Le Thanh Son

Autumn

Le Thanh Son

Painting - 124.5 x 144.8 x 3.8 cm Painting - 49 x 57 x 1.5 inch

CHF 17,436

Painting, Iwanagahime, Kusaba Kazuhisa

Iwanagahime

Kusaba Kazuhisa

Painting - 46.2 x 38.8 x 2 cm Painting - 18.2 x 15.3 x 0.8 inch

CHF 2,239

Painting, Sunny day, Vova DeBak

Sunny day

Vova DeBak

Painting - 20.3 x 25.4 x 0.3 cm Painting - 8 x 10 x 0.1 inch

CHF 85

Painting, Autumn red, Jeff Koehn

Autumn red

Jeff Koehn

Painting - 88.9 x 119.4 x 5.1 cm Painting - 35 x 47 x 2 inch

CHF 5,726

Painting, California, J. Llaverias

California

J. Llaverias

Painting - 80 x 80 x 1.7 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0.7 inch

CHF 681

Painting, Cameron Falls, Greg Dorosh

Cameron Falls

Greg Dorosh

Painting - 38.1 x 50.8 x 0.3 cm Painting - 15 x 20 x 0.1 inch

CHF 190

Painting, Sharks Tooth, Kent Sullivan

Sharks Tooth

Kent Sullivan

Painting - 91.4 x 121.9 x 1.3 cm Painting - 36 x 48 x 0.5 inch

CHF 8,547

Painting, Venise, Jacques Ostapoff

Venise

Jacques Ostapoff

Painting - 100 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

CHF 5,062

Painting, Blue Door, Joan Franklin

Blue Door

Joan Franklin

Painting - 20.3 x 19.1 x 0.3 cm Painting - 8 x 7.5 x 0.1 inch

CHF 321

Painting, R / c-1, Eire

R / c-1

Eire

Painting - 65 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 25.6 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

CHF 730

Painting, Cubism, Mario Prassinos

Cubism

Mario Prassinos

Painting - 66 x 51.5 cm Painting - 26 x 20.3 inch

CHF 4,380

Painting, Red glamour, Inam Ullah

Red glamour

Inam Ullah

Painting - 66 x 124 x 0.5 cm Painting - 26 x 48.8 x 0.2 inch

CHF 8,274

Painting, En Els Temps, Lucena Tate

En Els Temps

Lucena Tate

Painting - 30 x 30 x 0.3 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch

CHF 516

Painting, The Night, Anatole

The Night

Anatole

Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

CHF 146

Painting, Blossoms, Minh Son Nguyen

Blossoms

Minh Son Nguyen

Painting - 100 x 120 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 47.2 x 1.2 inch

CHF 4,638

Painting, Le Scribe, Najoua El Hitmi

Le Scribe

Najoua El Hitmi

Painting - 87 x 120 x 3 cm Painting - 34.3 x 47.2 x 1.2 inch

CHF 1,898

Painting, Up, Peter Tzekov

Up

Peter Tzekov

Painting - 55 x 46 x 2 cm Painting - 21.7 x 18.1 x 0.8 inch

CHF 662

Painting, Sans titre, Frédéric Fau

Sans titre

Frédéric Fau

Painting - 24 x 40 x 1.5 cm Painting - 9.4 x 15.7 x 0.6 inch

CHF 487

Painting, Fertility, Anastasia Gklava

Fertility

Anastasia Gklava

Painting - 100 x 150 x 4 cm Painting - 39.4 x 59.1 x 1.6 inch

CHF 6,035

Painting, 0616-02, Christo Daskaltsis

0616-02

Christo Daskaltsis

Painting - 130 x 90 x 1 cm Painting - 51.2 x 35.4 x 0.4 inch

CHF 5,695

Painting, Ilands, Lika Kakhidze

Ilands

Lika Kakhidze

Painting - 43 x 35 x 0.1 cm Painting - 16.9 x 13.8 x 0 inch

CHF 243

Painting, La Jungfrau, Boris Bessonof

La Jungfrau

Boris Bessonof

Painting - 45 x 55 x 2 cm Painting - 17.7 x 21.7 x 0.8 inch

CHF 14,601

Painting, Racines 708, Claire & Siri

Racines 708

Claire & Siri

Painting - 100 x 100 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 inch

Price upon request

Painting, On a Walk, Andrii Chebotaru

On a Walk

Andrii Chebotaru

Painting - 99.8 x 119.9 x 2.5 cm Painting - 39.3 x 47.2 x 1 inch

CHF 3,846

Painting, Landscape 90, Li Dongfeng

Landscape 90

Li Dongfeng

Painting - 49 x 49 x 1 cm Painting - 19.3 x 19.3 x 0.4 inch

CHF 779

Painting, Deep forest, Sophie Dumont

Deep forest

Sophie Dumont

Painting - 33 x 24 x 2 cm Painting - 13 x 9.4 x 0.8 inch

CHF 866 CHF 693

Painting, A tree, Galya Popova

A tree

Galya Popova

Painting - 100 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

Sold

Painting, Red Pines, Pavlenko Leonid

Red Pines

Pavlenko Leonid

Painting - 100 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

CHF 1,168

Painting, L'arbre vert, Âme Sauvage

L'arbre vert

Âme Sauvage

Painting - 46 x 38 x 2.4 cm Painting - 18.1 x 15 x 0.9 inch

CHF 292

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Need help with Tree Paintings ?
What are some famous tree paintings in art history?
Some of the most famous tree paintings in art history include Vincent van Gogh's "The Mulberry Tree," Claude Monet's "Poplars," and Gustav Klimt's "Birch Forest." These paintings showcase the beauty and majesty of trees in different styles and techniques.
How do artists capture the essence of trees in their paintings?
Artists capture the essence of trees in their paintings by observing the unique characteristics of each tree, such as its shape, texture, and color. They also consider the lighting and atmosphere surrounding the tree to create a realistic and emotive representation. Through careful observation and technique, artists can convey the beauty and majesty of trees in their paintings.