The artwork titled “My Egypt” by Charles Demuth, created in 1927, is an exquisite example of Precisionism, a movement known for its sharp, geometric representation of industrial and urban landscapes. This cityscape is rendered in oil, chalk, and graphite on board with dimensions of 35 3/4 x 30 inches (90.8 x 76.2 cm). As part of the “Architecture of Lancaster” series, the artwork is currently housed at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.
In this work, Demuth employs a distinguished style characterized by clean lines and pronounced geometrical forms to depict the industrial architecture of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The painting showcases prominent silos juxtaposed against a stark blue sky, divided by a network of intersecting lines and shadows that create a sense of depth and dimensionality. There is a meticulous attention to the interplay of light and shadow, which gives the industrial structures both weight and ethereal quality. The artwork reflects the themes of modernity and the American industrial landscape, celebrating the structural beauty and underlying order of these man-made edifices. Demuth’s choice of palette, dominated by grays, blues, and subtle warm tones, complements the serene yet strong portrayal of architectural forms and contributes to the overall emotional resonance of the piece.
