Drawing from a Sketchbook (Bosquejo de un cuaderno de dibujos)(tree islands)

As the title suggests, Rivera drew these tree covered islands in one of his many sketchbooks. The loose, suggestive pencil strokes used to draw the trees are reminiscent of Impressionists, who went into nature to capture things as they saw them. Whether these “tree islands” actually existed or whether they were a figment of Rivera’s imagination is unknown, but the sketches serve as an intimate glimpse into the artist’s creative process.

Creator: Diego Rivera

Date: 1923-25

Original Medium: watercolor and ink on paper

Original Size: 4 3/4 x 7 1/4 in.

Location: Los Angeles County Museum of Art