American Art Collaborative

Rich and diverse colors interact with ivory black silhouettes, creating movement and depth in Charles Demuth’s "Zinnias." Despite the beautiful effect, however, this is not just a floral study but rather an expression of emotion through floral forms. Arguably the finest watercolorist of the 20th century, Demuth painted everything from landscape abstractions to lively circus and vaudeville scenes. He began stylized floral paintings such as this one after 1915. Demuth’s handling of the floral genre may have influenced Georgia O’Keeffe’s explorations of this subject.