“Water,” an artwork created by Charles Sheeler in 1945, is an oil painting belonging to the Precisionism movement. This piece, measuring 61 x 74 cm, depicts a cityscape. The formal characteristics of the painting reflect Sheeler’s precise and geometric approach, representative of the Precisionist style.
The artwork showcases a series of industrial structures, likely water treatment facilities or some form of hydraulic infrastructure, portrayed with meticulous detail and sharp clarity. The architectural forms are rendered with smooth surfaces and clean lines, typifying the Precisionist rejection of painterly brushwork in favor of a machine-like finish. The color palette is composed of muted earth tones and grays, evoking a sense of industrial composure and modernist efficiency. The play of light and shadow on the buildings emphasizes their solidity and volumetric presence, while the sky, with its soft, diffused light and subtle variations in tone, provides a tranquil contrast to the rigidity of the architectural forms. Overall, Sheeler’s “Water” is a masterful representation of industrial beauty, underscored by a harmonious balance between man-made structures and their surrounding environment.
