The artwork “Chimney and Water Tower,” created by Charles Demuth in 1931 using oil on panel, is a notable piece within the Precisionism art movement. This cityscape belongs to the “Architecture of Lancaster” series and is currently housed at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, Texas.
In this painting, Demuth meticulously portrays industrial structures, emphasizing geometric shapes and stark lines. The scene is dominated by a tall, red chimney and an adjacent water tower set against a backdrop of muted grays and blues. The architectural elements are rendered with an almost photographic precision, characteristic of Precisionism, highlighting the harmony between man-made structures and their urban environment. The play of light and shadow further enhances the three-dimensional quality of the forms, celebrating the industrial aesthetic in a visually compelling manner.
