Paper

Student Artwork Guide

Water

Name Class Date

charles rettew sheeler junior, Water. Reproduced for reference; rights reserved by the rights holder.

The facts

Artist
charles rettew sheeler junior wahooart.com/en/artists/charles-rettew-sheeler-junior/
Artist’s dates
1883 – 1965
Movement
Cubism Objects broken apart and shown from several viewpoints at once, all flattened onto one surface.

In context

Water — charles rettew sheeler junior

When might this have been painted?

  1. 1880
  2. 1890
  3. 1900
  4. 1910
  5. 1920
  6. 1930
  7. 1940
  8. 1950
  9. 1960

Shaded: the lifetime of charles rettew sheeler junior (1883–1965)

This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: wahooart.com/en/art/similar/charles-rettew-sheeler-junior-water-8DP5HZ-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Gray #887867

    Catalogued palette

    • #887867
    • #504136
    • #C0B3A5
    • #AF9D86
    Palette
    Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Gray
    Intensity
    Balanced How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Balanced How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Strong Color Unity How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Bright How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Subtle Color How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    charles rettew sheeler junior

    Born in Philadelphia, United States of America

    early life and education

    charles rettew sheeler junior, an american painter and photographer, was born in philadelphia in 1883. he attended the pennsylvania museum school of industrial art from 1900 to 1903, followed by a traditional training in drawing and painting at the pennsylvania academy of fine arts (1903-6). this education laid the foundation for his future success as a pioneer of precisionism.

    career and influences

    sheeler's early work was influenced by his travels to europe, where he developed an interest in the italian painters of the late middle ages, particularly giotto, masaccio, and piero della francesca. in 1909, he visited the paris home of michael and sarah stein, early patrons of picasso and braque, which inspired him to work in a cubist style. this exposure to various artistic movements shaped his unique precisionist approach.

    photography and precisionism

    sheeler taught himself photography, initially documenting local buildings for architects. he later photographed the interior of his own house, shaping its rough-hewn spaces with light and shadow. his work in photography led to the development of precisionism, a style characterized by its focus on precision and accuracy.

    notable works and legacy

    some of sheeler's notable works include:

    stairway at the farm, doylestown, showcasing his mastery of light and composition.

    photographs of local vernacular architecture, highlighting the beauty in functional design.

    works featured in various exhibitions, including those at the museum of modern art (moma) and the metropolitan museum of art.

    sheeler's legacy extends beyond his own work, influencing generations of artists and photographers.

    explore more on AllPaintingsStore.com

    view sheeler's artworks: https://AllPaintingsStore.com/@/charles-rettew-sheeler-junior

    discover other precisionist artists: /en/art/show/art-93pvdx-en/

    important dates:

    july 16, 1883: born in philadelphia, pennsylvania

    may 7, 1965: passed away in dobbs ferry, new york

    references

    the metropolitan museum of art: charles sheeler (1883–1965)

    wikipedia: charles sheeler ### links from AllPaintingsStore.com: - /en/art/list/ - https://AllPaintingsStore.com/@/charles-rettew-sheeler-junior

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Water

    wahooart.com/en/art/download/charles-rettew-sheeler-junior-water-8DP5HZ-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    junior, charles rettew sheeler. Water. n.d., https://wahooart.com/en/art/charles-rettew-sheeler-junior-water-8DP5HZ-en/
    APA
    junior, charles rettew sheeler (n.d.). Water [Painting]. https://wahooart.com/en/art/charles-rettew-sheeler-junior-water-8DP5HZ-en/
    Chicago
    charles rettew sheeler junior. Water. n.d. https://wahooart.com/en/art/charles-rettew-sheeler-junior-water-8DP5HZ-en/
    Harvard
    junior, charles rettew sheeler (n.d.) Water. Available at: https://wahooart.com/en/art/charles-rettew-sheeler-junior-water-8DP5HZ-en/

    Look closely

    Water — charles rettew sheeler junior

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Our catalogue files this work under: urban landscape, geometric art, industrial design. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    4. Look back at Criss-Crossed Conveyors--Ford Plant (1927), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    5. Cubism: Objects broken apart and shown from several viewpoints at once, all flattened onto one surface. Where can you see that in this work?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.