Untitled 

Charles Demuth made this watercolor painting with paper sometime in his career. Demuth's handling of this medium is intriguing. Watercolor often has an amateur association, yet Demuth’s practice elevates this material through his artistic skill, and the way he combines the soft blending with the linear definition. The qualities inherent in watercolor – its fluidity and translucence – are fundamental to the work's effect. The figures are delicately rendered, almost ethereal, with the pigment appearing to float on the paper's surface. The process of applying watercolor involves a balance of control and chance. Demuth would have understood this well, and the visible brushstrokes contribute to the painting’s overall sense of spontaneity. It is also worth noting that watercolor, while requiring immense skill, is a relatively affordable medium, accessible to a wider range of artists than, say, oil paint. Demuth embraced this accessibility, blurring the lines between traditional high art and more quotidian forms of expression. He reminds us that artistic value is not inherent in a material but emerges from the vision and skill of the artist.