Artwork
Machinery
Machinery is an unspecified painting by Charles Demuth. It dates from 1920 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Charles Demuth's 1920 work, *Machinery*, captures an industrial subject from his native Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This drawing exemplifies Demuth's engagement with American industry and urban landscapes during a period of significant artistic innovation. It is currently held within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, representing a key aspect of his artistic output.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork focuses on a specific piece of industrial equipment, rendered with precision. Demuth frequently explored the visual language of factories, grain elevators, and other industrial structures prevalent in his hometown. This particular depiction contributes to his broader series of works that celebrated the functional beauty and stark geometry of American manufacturing and infrastructure.
History & Provenance
Created in 1920, *Machinery* has since become part of a prominent public collection. The drawing is presently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it serves as an example of American modernism and Demuth's distinctive contribution to the Precisionist movement. Its inclusion reflects its recognized artistic and historical significance.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Henry Buckius Demuth (November 8, 1883 – October 23, 1935) was an American painter who specialized in watercolors and turned to oils late in his career, developing a style of painting known as Precisionism.
