Precisionism, an emerging art style after World War 1, captured the new American landscape. This American movement helped push modernity into American culture as the paintings and photographs depicted skyscrapers, bridges, and factories.[1] The paintings were created using geometrically sharp forms and bold color. These sharp forms and bold colors were inspired by the structures that became the subject of these works. Precisionism was typically carried out through oil paints, but graphite on paper and photography also contributed to the movement.
The artists that pushed the movement considered this strictly an American style. This coincides with Americanism and how America, as a culture, developed a strong pride and independence following WWI. Precisionism, along with other movements such as the Flappers, helped push America to modernity. Flappers innovated our culture with their way of life, while Precisionism depicted our new industrial landscape.
Charles Demuth, who painted Chimney and Water Tower (left), was an early innovator for this movement. He captivated the art world with his subtle, but imaginative, pieces.[2] This painting was created with oil on composition board and uses straight lines and solid shapes. This exactness is used to emphasize the factory culture during the late 1920s. This painting was finished in 1931, at a time when American artists were moving away from European influences in a response to popular Americanism ideas. This movement was considered to have little influence on global art, reinforcing the idea that it was strictly an American trend.
Chimney and Water Tower is now in the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. Steamfitter (right), a precisionism photograph, accompanies Chimney and Water Tower in this Museum. Steamfitter, taken by Lewis Hine, embodies the factory worker in the early 1920s. The photograph was taken in 1921 and celebrates the relationship between man and machine.[3]
Precisionism was a tribute to modernity in America. It was one of the first art movements to originate in the US without European influence. The originality of the movement speaks to the prevalence of Americanism after WWI and it also speaks to the establishment of American culture.
[1] Brianna McMullen. Precisionism: Art in the Industrial Age. Art Education. (March 2006) pg. 26
[2] James W. Lane. Charles Demuth. Parmassus. New York University. (March 1936) pg. 8
[3] Brianna McMullen. Precisionism: Art in the Industrial Age. Art Education. (March 2006) pg. 27
The artists that pushed the movement considered this strictly an American style. This coincides with Americanism and how America, as a culture, developed a strong pride and independence following WWI. Precisionism, along with other movements such as the Flappers, helped push America to modernity. Flappers innovated our culture with their way of life, while Precisionism depicted our new industrial landscape.
Charles Demuth, who painted Chimney and Water Tower (left), was an early innovator for this movement. He captivated the art world with his subtle, but imaginative, pieces.[2] This painting was created with oil on composition board and uses straight lines and solid shapes. This exactness is used to emphasize the factory culture during the late 1920s. This painting was finished in 1931, at a time when American artists were moving away from European influences in a response to popular Americanism ideas. This movement was considered to have little influence on global art, reinforcing the idea that it was strictly an American trend.
Chimney and Water Tower is now in the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. Steamfitter (right), a precisionism photograph, accompanies Chimney and Water Tower in this Museum. Steamfitter, taken by Lewis Hine, embodies the factory worker in the early 1920s. The photograph was taken in 1921 and celebrates the relationship between man and machine.[3]
Precisionism was a tribute to modernity in America. It was one of the first art movements to originate in the US without European influence. The originality of the movement speaks to the prevalence of Americanism after WWI and it also speaks to the establishment of American culture.
[1] Brianna McMullen. Precisionism: Art in the Industrial Age. Art Education. (March 2006) pg. 26
[2] James W. Lane. Charles Demuth. Parmassus. New York University. (March 1936) pg. 8
[3] Brianna McMullen. Precisionism: Art in the Industrial Age. Art Education. (March 2006) pg. 27