Roses 1926

Charles Demuth created 'Roses,' using watercolor and graphite on paper. Demuth, who was a central figure in the precisionist movement, also had a profound connection with the queer artistic circles of his time. In 'Roses,' Demuth moves beyond the precisionist style, embracing instead a softer, more organic approach. He creates a contrast between the delicate flowers and the sharper, more industrial forms he was known for. Yet, roses have historically carried complex symbolism, often linked to notions of beauty, love, and mortality. In this context, Demuth—a gay man living in an era of intense social repression—could have been drawn to the rose as a symbol laden with layers of meaning. Demuth's negotiation of the boundaries between visibility and coded expression resonates even today, inviting us to reflect on the personal within the political.