{"title":"Charles Sheeler","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"one-third-of-a-nation-charles-sheeler","title":"One Third of a Nation - Charles Sheeler","description":"\u003cp\u003eCharles Sheeler's 'One Third of a Nation' (1939) is a Precisionist masterpiece, capturing the stark beauty of urban architecture while subtly referencing the social inequalities of the era. A striking and thought-provoking addition to any home.\u003c\/p\u003e\n        \u003cp\u003eCharles Sheeler's 'One Third of a Nation', painted in 1939, is a striking example of Precisionism, an American art movement that emerged in the 1920s. Precisionist artists found beauty in the clean lines and geometric forms of industrial and urban landscapes, celebrating the machine age while often hinting at the social realities beneath the surface. This painting, with its stark architectural forms and muted palette, reflects Sheeler's interest in the underlying structure of the modern world. The title itself, 'One Third of a Nation', is a direct reference to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's second inaugural address, where he highlighted the pervasive poverty and inequality that persisted despite the New Deal efforts. The painting depicts a cluster of buildings, their facades rendered with meticulous detail and a sense of austere geometry. The composition is carefully balanced, with the buildings arranged to create a dynamic interplay of light and shadow. The presence of a vine with white flowers adds a touch of organic beauty to the otherwise stark urban scene, perhaps symbolising resilience and hope amidst hardship. As a fine art print, 'One Third of a Nation' brings a touch of modernist elegance and social commentary to any space. Its clean lines and muted colours make it a versatile addition to both contemporary and traditional interiors, inviting contemplation on the complexities of urban life and the enduring quest for social justice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/en-nz\/products\/the-musician-charles-demuth\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eThe Musician - Charles Demuth — Charles Demuth\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/en-nz\/products\/neapolitan-song-joseph-stella\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eNeapolitan Song - Joseph Stella — Joseph Stella\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/en-nz\/collections\/charles-sheeler\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#2a555a;border:1px solid #2a555a;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#ffffff;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eMore by Charles Sheeler →\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Charles Sheeler","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":57003792499023,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":57003792564559,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ White frame","offer_id":57003792597327,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":57003792695631,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ White frame","offer_id":57003792728399,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":57003792761167,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":57003792826703,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ White frame","offer_id":57003792859471,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ B2 (50x70 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":57003792892239,"sku":null,"price":117.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ B2 (50x70 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":57003792925007,"sku":null,"price":117.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ B2 (50x70 cm) \/ White frame","offer_id":57003792990543,"sku":null,"price":117.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A1 (59.4 x 84.1  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":57003793023311,"sku":null,"price":150.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A1 (59.4 x 84.1  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":57003793088847,"sku":null,"price":150.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A1 (59.4 x 84.1  cm) \/ White frame","offer_id":57003793121615,"sku":null,"price":150.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Canvas \/ XS Canvas (20x30cm) \/ -","offer_id":57003793219919,"sku":null,"price":30.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Canvas \/ Small Canvas (30x40cm) \/ -","offer_id":57003793252687,"sku":null,"price":50.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Canvas \/ B2 (50x70 cm) \/ -","offer_id":57003793318223,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/file_f1b48e75-33db-4634-90ea-3c8dd919a521.jpg?v=1770746894"},{"product_id":"upper-deck-charles-sheeler","title":"Upper Deck - Charles Sheeler","description":"\u003cp\u003eA definitive Precisionist work from 1929, capturing the geometric clarity and industrial form of an ocean liner's deck machinery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eUpper Deck, painted in 1929, is a definitive work of the Precisionist movement. Charles Sheeler, who worked extensively as a professional photographer, applied a camera-like clarity to his painting practice. This work depicts the ventilation funnels and machinery on the deck of the SS Majestic, a transatlantic ocean liner. The composition focuses on the geometric forms of the industrial equipment, stripping away extraneous detail to reveal the underlying structure of the ship.\n\nSheeler employs a cool, controlled palette of greys, whites, and soft blues to render the metallic surfaces. The light source is precise, creating sharp shadows that define the cylindrical and rectangular volumes of the ventilators. By removing the human element, Sheeler invites the viewer to consider the aesthetic qualities of modern engineering. The painting reflects the period fascination with the machine age, where industrial design was viewed with a sense of order and clarity.\n\nTechnically, the work demonstrates Sheeler's mastery of smooth paint application, which minimises visible brushwork to achieve a clean, photographic finish. The diagonal lines of the rigging cut across the upper portion of the canvas, providing a sense of tension against the static, heavy forms of the machinery below. This balance between the rigid geometry of the ventilators and the linear elements of the ship's structure creates a rhythmic, almost musical arrangement of shapes. The work remains a primary example of how early twentieth-century artists engaged with the rapid industrialisation of the era, finding beauty in the functional components of modern transport.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/en-nz\/products\/female-model-vilhelm-lundstrom-2\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eFemale Model - Vilhelm Lundstrøm — Vilhelm Lundstrøm\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/en-nz\/products\/the-ten-largest-no-10-old-age-hilma-af-klint\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eThe Ten Largest, No. 10, Old Age - Hilma af Klint — Hilma af Klint\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Charles Sheeler","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58229258617167,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58229258682703,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ White frame","offer_id":58229258715471,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58229258813775,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ White frame","offer_id":58229258846543,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58229258879311,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58229258944847,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ White frame","offer_id":58229258977615,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ B2 (50x70 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58229259010383,"sku":null,"price":117.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ B2 (50x70 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58229259043151,"sku":null,"price":117.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ B2 (50x70 cm) \/ White frame","offer_id":58229259108687,"sku":null,"price":117.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A1 (59.4 x 84.1  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58229259141455,"sku":null,"price":150.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A1 (59.4 x 84.1  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58229259206991,"sku":null,"price":150.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A1 (59.4 x 84.1  cm) \/ White frame","offer_id":58229259239759,"sku":null,"price":150.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Canvas \/ XS Canvas (20x30cm) \/ -","offer_id":58229259764047,"sku":null,"price":30.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Canvas \/ Small Canvas (30x40cm) \/ -","offer_id":58229259796815,"sku":null,"price":50.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Canvas \/ B2 (50x70 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58229259862351,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Upper-Deck_Poster_CompositorV1_1780878381460.jpg?v=1780881034"},{"product_id":"water-charles-sheeler","title":"Water - Charles Sheeler","description":"\u003cp\u003eA classic example of Precisionism, this 1945 work by Charles Sheeler captures the geometric order and industrial scale of a concrete water-management structure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eCharles Sheeler, a central figure in the American Precisionist movement, produced Water in 1945. This work reflects his fascination with the intersection of industrial engineering and formal composition. Sheeler often turned his attention to the structures of modern production, finding beauty in the clean lines and geometric order of factories, dams, and machinery. His approach to painting was informed by his parallel career as a professional photographer, which encouraged a focus on sharp edges, clear light, and the reduction of complex forms into their essential components.\n\nIn this composition, the massive concrete forms of a dam or water-management structure dominate the frame. The artist employs a muted, earthy palette to render the heavy, solid surfaces of the architecture. The light source is diffuse, casting soft shadows that define the volumes of the concrete towers and the cylindrical pipes. By stripping away extraneous detail, Sheeler directs the viewer to the structural logic of the scene. The perspective is carefully managed to create a sense of scale and permanence, turning a utilitarian site into a study of balance and geometric rhythm.\n\nSheeler's technique involves smooth, controlled paint application that minimises the visibility of brushstrokes, further aligning the painting with the mechanical precision of his subject matter. The work avoids narrative or human presence, concentrating instead on the physical reality of the built environment. This focus on the clarity of form and the aesthetic potential of industrial design is characteristic of his output during the mid-twentieth century. The result is a calm, ordered image that captures the intersection of human ingenuity and the natural world, presented through a lens of disciplined observation and technical rigour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/en-nz\/products\/female-model-vilhelm-lundstrom-2\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eFemale Model - Vilhelm Lundstrøm — Vilhelm Lundstrøm\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/en-nz\/products\/dandelions-yayoi-kusama-1\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eDandelions - Yayoi Kusama — Yayoi Kusama\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Charles Sheeler","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ -","offer_id":57913725944143,"sku":null,"price":37.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ -","offer_id":57913737216335,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ -","offer_id":57913737249103,"sku":null,"price":55.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Water_Poster_CompositorV1_1781400368686.jpg?v=1781409252"},{"product_id":"church-street-el-charles-sheeler","title":"Church Street El - Charles Sheeler","description":"\u003cp\u003eA seminal work of American Precisionism, this 1920 painting by Charles Sheeler captures the geometric essence of New York City architecture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCharles Sheeler, a central figure in the Precisionist movement, produced Church Street El in 1920. This work captures the urban environment of New York City through a lens of geometric reduction and controlled composition. The painting depicts the elevated railway tracks and the surrounding architecture of Lower Manhattan, rendered with a focus on the interplay of light, shadow, and structural form.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSheeler strips away the chaotic detail of the city, opting instead for clean lines and flattened planes of colour. The perspective is steep, looking down into the urban canyon, which emphasises the verticality of the buildings and the rigid, industrial nature of the elevated tracks. The palette is restrained, relying on muted tones of ochre, terracotta, and deep shadow to define the spatial relationships between the structures. By removing human presence, Sheeler directs the viewer to the formal qualities of the architecture and the mechanical rhythm of the city.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis approach reflects the artist's dual practice as a painter and a photographer. His background in photography informs the sharp focus and the deliberate cropping of the scene, which creates a sense of immediacy. The work avoids romanticising the urban environment, choosing to present it as a constructed, logical space. The composition relies on strong diagonals and rectangular blocks, which guide the eye through the frame while maintaining a sense of stillness. This piece is a representative example of the American interest in industrial subjects during the early twentieth century, where the machine age and modern architecture became primary subjects for artistic exploration. The clarity of the execution and the rejection of painterly brushwork align with the broader goals of Precisionism, which sought to reconcile the aesthetics of modern industry with the traditions of fine art.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/en-nz\/products\/the-musician-charles-demuth\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eThe Musician - Charles Demuth — Charles Demuth\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/en-nz\/products\/neapolitan-song-joseph-stella\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eNeapolitan Song - Joseph Stella — Joseph Stella\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Charles Sheeler","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58343787200847,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58343787266383,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58343787364687,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58343787397455,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58343787462991,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Church-Street-El_Poster_CompositorV1_1785367067778.jpg?v=1785367478"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/en-nz\/collections\/charles-sheeler.oembed","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}