The Bay, Provincetown

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The Bay, Provincetown

Artist Charles Demuth (American, 1883 - 1935)

Dateabout 1914

DimensionsH: 10 1/8 in. (25.7 cm); W: 14 1/8 in. (36 cm)

MediumWatercolor on paper

ClassificationDrawings

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number

1938.13

Not on View

Label TextA leading American Modernist painter of the early 20th century, Charles Demuth was considered a master of the watercolor. Born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as a child Demuth was encouraged by his parents to pursue his interest in art. He studied in Philadelphia at the Drexel Institute and at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. While studying in Paris, he met many of the great Modern painters, including Henri Matisse (1869–1954) and Georges Braque (1882–1963). These encounters influenced his use of bright colors and fluid lines, and even encouraged him to experiment with Cubism. Returning from Paris, Demuth opened a studio in Provincetown, Massachusetts, where this vibrant, expressionistic watercolor was painted.Published ReferencesFarnham, E., "Charles Demuth: His Life, Psychology and Works," unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, 1959, Ohio State University, II, pp. 442-443.

Farnham, E., Charles Demuth: Behind a Laughing Mask, Norman, OK, 1970, pp. 88, 111, 199.

Toledo Museum of Art, The Toledo Museum of Art, American Paintings, Toledo, 1979, p. 40, pl. 159.

Exhibition HistoryNew York, Museum of Modern Art, Charles Demuth, 1950, no. 18 (cat. by A. Ritchie).

Harrisburg, William Penn Memorial Museum, Charles Demuth of Lancaster, 1966, no. 15.

Muscatine (IA), The Laura Musser Art Gallery and Museum, Opening Exhibition, 1966. (no cat.).

Toledo Museum of Art, Transparent Color, May 3 - August 25, 2002.

Toledo Museum of Art, Looks Good on Paper: Masterworks and Favorites, Oct. 10, 2014-Jan. 11, 2015.

Toledo Museum of Art, Earthly Beauty, May 29-Sept. 6, 2015.