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Open 10:00–5:00

Visit
Open today 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Admission is always free

6th and Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20565

Sculpture Garden Extended Hours

Open late until 8:00 p.m. on select nights
Through September 5
Exhibitions & Events
America’s 250th

Celebrating American art and artists
Art & Artists
Open Call

Artists Reimagining the Collection
Meet the 50 makers selected from more than 1,600 submissions

This is How the Tree Breaks

1999

William Kentridge

Associated Names

William Kentridge

Artist, South African, born 1955

The image shows a black tree drawn on faded book pages. The tree has intricate branches and a thick trunk. Below the tree, red text reads "THIS IS HOW THE TREE BREAKS."

This object’s media is not available for download. Contact us about image usage.

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Artwork overview

Medium

etching with hand additions on collaged paper
Credit Line

Gift of Christopher and Beverly With in memory of Karl and Gerda With
Dimensions

sheet: 34.29 × 49.53 cm (13 1/2 × 19 1/2 in.)
Accession Number

2024.156.9

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(Robert Brown Gallery, Washington, DC, 2001); Christopher and Beverly With

Associated Names

With, Christopher

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