Banyan and Turpentine Tree

Banyan and turpentine trees intertwine in sinuous tangles in this lithograph by Ross Eugene Braught. The artist used his gift for close observation and meticulous description to move beyond pure botany. Instead, he created a lush fantasy world. Transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary, he imbued the trees with such a powerful sense of life that they begin to suggest human anatomy. Look closely—branches and roots morph into arched torsos, crossed legs, and stretching arms.