1915-1945
1. Precisionism a style of painting in which the object is depicted realistically with an emphasis on the geometrical form of the object in perfect precision, as the name of the style indicates, so it would appear like a photograph.
Upper Deck by Charles Sheeler, ca. 1928
Note the chimneys and the motors which are common elements in Precisionist art.
I Saw the Figure 5 in Gold by Charles Demuth, 1928
2. Like Italian Futurism, Precisionist artists celebrated industrialization in the form of urban landscapes (skyscrapers and massive machinery), however the Precisionists differed in not showing much abstraction, dynamism (e.g. automobiles or planes) or a bird’s-eye view of buildings. Instead, Precisionist paintings show the subjects from angles that aim to make them pass as photographs. Note how the scenes here are always “spiritually” serene as opposed to the dynamic Futurist paintings.
Skyscrapers by Charles Sheeler, 1922
The Radiator Building — Night, New York by Georgia O’Keeffe, 1927
As in other Precisionist paintings, any signs of humanity is absent or de-emphasized: here we find human life is represented by only small windows on the tall, dark city buildings.
3. Look for paintings showing smokestacks, steel foundries, massive machinery, factories, urban skylines and country landscapes with barns and grain elevators. Note that you will rarely see people or nature there! A pure glorification of industrialization.
American Landscape by Charles Sheeler, 1930
There is only one man in the painting, can you spot him?
4. Light in Precisionist paintings is perfectly bright, falling on and “dignifying” the subject matter as if to signal the dawn of a new Utopian era. It is an art style that is curiously trying to achieve both idealism and realism at the same time.
My Egypt by Charles Demuth, 1927
Note the steel and concrete grain elevators where the artists is comparing American success and prosperity to the grandeur of ancient Egypt. You can’t miss the monumentality of the majestic grain elevators as your eyes notice the lower rooftops of other buildings in contrast.
5. The industrial architecture is simplified and purified to geometric, particularly cylindrical forms that are hard-edged and sharply delineated.
Chimney and Water Tower by Charles Demuth, 1931
2. How Precisionist art got its name and what gave rise to it?
3. Why Precisionist artists were rebels?