The artwork titled “Dead Tree,” created by Robert Smithson in 1969, belongs to the Environmental (Land) Art movement and falls under the genre of installation.
In this installation, a large tree, uprooted and laid horizontally, dominates the space, juxtaposing natural elements within a stark, minimalist indoor setting. The tree’s positioning, with its roots exposed and branches extending across the floor, invokes themes of decay and displacement. The clean lines and sparse surroundings of the gallery contrast sharply with the organic complexity of the tree, highlighting the dialogue between nature and constructed environments—a quintessential characteristic of Smithson’s work within the Environmental Art movement.
