Two Shattered Trees; and Study for "The Road" [verso]

Two Shattered Trees; and Study for "The Road" [verso] is a powerful, double-sided drawing created by John Singer Sargent between 1913 and 1923. Executed primarily in graphite on wove paper, the artwork exemplifies the intense observational skill and controlled draftsmanship Sargent maintained throughout his late career.

The main image, Two Shattered Trees, presents a stark, somber scene focusing attention on the brutalized forms of nature. This depiction of destroyed woodland is characteristic of the subject matter Sargent pursued while documenting the aftermath of World War I on the Western Front, where he focused on landscapes scarred by conflict rather than direct battle scenes. The work dates specifically to the later phase of the artist's career, placing it within the pivotal American artistic period of 1901 to 1925.

Sargent employed graphite deftly, using dense, layered crosshatching to give texture and form to the splintered wood, achieving deep tonal contrasts despite the limited monochromatic palette. The drawing serves as a sobering memorial, reflecting the immense ecological and human cost of the conflict.

The reverse side of the paper features the Study for "The Road" [verso], likely a preliminary sketch for Sargent’s monumental 1919 painting, Gassed, which depicts columns of blinded soldiers being led away from the front. This secondary drawing showcases Sargent’s process of compositional planning, emphasizing paths, scale, and the sense of desolate movement within a ravaged setting.

As one of the most significant figures in American art history, Sargent’s drawings offer crucial insight into his observational prowess and transition away from formal portraiture towards expressive, documentary subjects. This important work is held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, providing the public with access to this crucial period of the artist’s output. Due to its status and age, high-resolution images and prints of this powerful piece are often available through public domain resources, allowing scholars and enthusiasts worldwide to study the master’s detailed draftsmanship.