American Art Archives

One Day in June (ca. 1880-1885)

William Thomas Smedley (American, 1858–1920)

A woman pauses mid-step, her skirts brushing the cobblestones. Sunlight slants across the street, casting long shadows behind her. The air hums with quiet energy—an ordinary moment suspended, heavy with unspoken stories.
Nonchalance

William McGregor Paxton (American, 1869–1941)

A woman lounges in a sunlit room, her gaze distant yet deliberate. The folds of her dress drape effortlessly, catching the light with quiet elegance. There’s an unspoken ease in her posture, as if time itself hesitates to disturb her. The scene lingers—unhurried, untroubled, utterly present.
Harrison Fisher girls Pl.4 (1914)

Harrison Fisher (American, 1875–1934)

Graceful figures in flowing gowns exude effortless charm, their poised elegance frozen in time. Soft colors and delicate details whisper of an era where refinement reigned. Each glance holds a story untold, inviting you to linger just a moment longer.
Summer Scene (ca. 1920)

William Henry Holmes (American, 1846–1933)

Golden light spills over rolling hills, dappling the grass with warmth. A lazy breeze stirs the trees, their leaves whispering secrets of the season. The air hums with life, thick with the scent of sunbaked earth and wildflowers. Summer lingers here, heavy and sweet.
De uitlandsche kapellen voorkomende in de drie waereld-deelen, Asia, Africa en America pl59 (1779-1782)

Pieter Cramer (Dutch, 1721–1776)

Delicate wings unfurl across the page—tropical butterflies from three continents, each etched with precision. Stripes, spots, and intricate patterns reveal nature’s artistry, frozen in ink. A silent flutter of Asia, Africa, and America preserved on paper.
Foreign butterflies occurring in the three continents Asia, Africa and America Pl.334 (1779-1782)

Pieter Cramer (Dutch, 1721–1776)

Vibrant wings unfold across continents—delicate patterns from Asia, bold hues of Africa, and the exotic shades of America. Each butterfly a tiny traveler, pinned to the page yet alive with color, their silent flight preserved in ink and paper.
Fish Series, No. 2 (1917)

Charles Demuth (American, 1883–1935)

A delicate watercolor study of fish, their scales shimmering with translucent washes. The precise lines suggest scientific observation, yet the fluid colors breathe life into each specimen. Something between documentation and poetry.
Foreign butterflies occurring in the three continents Asia, Africa and America Pl.045 (1779-1782)

Pieter Cramer (Dutch, 1721–1776)

Vibrant wings from three continents—Asia, Africa, America—frozen mid-flight. Each delicate engraving traces the intricate patterns of foreign butterflies, their colors still vivid centuries later. A silent migration preserved on paper.
The Savior (ca. 1900-1905)

Henry Ossawa Tanner (American, 1859–1937)

A lone figure walks through a darkened landscape, his face softly illuminated. The quiet intensity of his gaze suggests both weariness and resolve. Shadows cling to the folds of his robe as he moves forward, an ordinary man carrying something unseen yet immense. The light around him feels fragile, almost sacred.