“Buildings Abstraction, Lancaster” is an artwork created by Charles Demuth in 1931, executed in oil on board. As a prominent piece within the Precisionism movement, this cityscape belongs to the “Architecture of Lancaster” series and captures the essence of urban industrial architecture. The artwork is housed at the Detroit Institute of Arts in Detroit, Michigan.
The artwork features a geometrically stylized representation of industrial buildings, emphasizing clean lines and harmonious color blocks. A prominent red water tower with black supports stands in the foreground, marked with partially visible text, while another dark green water tower is seen behind it. The background consists of a red-brick building characterized by rectangular windows, intersecting lines and shadows creating a dynamic composition. The sky features hues of blue intersected by lines that suggest angles of light or structures, contributing to the abstract and precise aesthetic that defines Precisionism. The overall visual impact of the piece is one of meticulous structure and vibrant color harmony, illustrating the intersection of architecture and artistic abstraction.
