# Locust Blossoms

**Samuel Colman** (American, 1832–1920)  
June 6, 1877  
Brush and watercolor, graphite on cream paper  
39.8 × 28.5 cm (15 11/16 × 11 1/4 in.)

Courtesy of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 1939-85-93. [The museum's record](https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/view/objects/asitem/id/72140).

## About this work

Studies of locust blossoms in watercolor, center; below, studies in graphite of horse-chestnut leaves; above, studies in graphite of apple blossoms. Verso: sweet pea; marshmallow leaves.

_Text from Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum._

Samuel Colman painted this (June 6, 1877), aged 45. It is now at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York.

### How it was made

- **Watercolour.** Pigment in gum arabic, thinned with water and laid in transparent washes. Nothing white is painted: the light is the paper showing through.
- **Graphite.** Pencil. Graphite has been used for drawing since the 1500s; in 1795 Nicolas-Jacques Conté mixed it with clay, so its hardness could be graded.

### [Samuel Colman](https://www.ochreeditions.com/artists/samuel-colman)

American, 1832–1920

## Facts

- Type: Drawing
- The artist was 45
- Real size: about 16 × 11 in (40 × 29 cm). The 12 × 16 in print is close to life size.
- Century: 19th century
- Subjects: Nature
- Colour: white
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/1743.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/1743/1920.jpg
- Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Photo Rag: 8 × 10 in $28; 11 × 14 in $38; 12 × 16 in $42; 16 × 20 in $56; 18 × 24 in $68; 20 × 30 in $86; 24 × 36 in $108
- Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108; 16 × 20 in $138; 18 × 24 in $164; 20 × 30 in $208; 24 × 36 in $258
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98; 18 × 24 in $118; 20 × 30 in $148
- Print-ready file: 8 × 10 in $2; 11 × 14 in $2; 12 × 16 in $3; 16 × 20 in $3; 18 × 24 in $3; 20 × 30 in $5; 24 × 36 in $5

Sizes stop where the museum's file would print below 150 pixels per inch. Everything sold is a reproduction, made to order. [Order a print](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/locust-blossoms-si-chndm-1939-85-93).