America / c. 1923
Amaryllis
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Amaryllis as drawing (America · c. 1923).
This watercolor was purchased by the museum during its first exhibition, at Daniel Gallery in New York, and was one of the first works by Charles Demuth to enter a public museum collection.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this drawing as watercolor over graphite and credits Charles Demuth (American, 1883–1935).
The museum's collection notes: Still-life was one of Charles Demuth's favorite genres, and he created works on this theme throughout his career. This drawing of a blooming amaryllis was completed while the artist was convalescing with diabetes in his hometown of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Because of his physical weakness, he was limited to working in watercolor, a less demanding medium than painting, and to subjects that he could easily observe, such as flowers. Demuth drew the amaryllis's form in graphite and then brushed on watercolor precisely, using a blotter to develop the pebbly texture seen throughout.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtAmaryllisOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.