Birch Tree

by Carl Rawson, 1926
Painting

About the art

Midwestern artist Carl Rawson made a career out of painting the landscapes he loved: Lake Superior shoreline scenes, boats, native trees. In this simple yet striking oil painting at the library, it’s a singular birch tree that takes center stage, its yellowing leaves heralding the change of seasons as blue waters shimmer behind it. The painting is one of two artworks that have hung on the walls of the Linden Hills Library since the building first opened in 1931. (The other, fittingly, is the architectural sketch of the library’s early design.)

Donated by the Lake Harriet Businessmen’s Association

Photos