Bringing Home the Tree

Born in 1904 in the farmlands of Nebraska, Dale Nichols spent his childhood in a picturesque rural town with classic red barns, quaint houses and open fields. At age twenty, he moved to Chicago, where he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts and became an art professor and editor. Although he spent fifteen years in the Windy City and much of his later life was spent travelling the country, Nichols' homeland of Nebraska was a constant inspiration in his art throughout his life.

In the present work, Nichols captures the farming landscape of his youth during the holiday season, from the vast skies and bright barns to the undulating snow on the fields and horse-drawn carriages. The bright colors, stylized trees and geometric snow add a modernist element to the regionalist scene. A similar composition is in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.