Dancing Sailors

Charles Henry Buckius Demuth was an American painter who specialized in watercolors and turned to oils late in his career, developing a style of painting known as Precisionism. In the early 20th century, Demuth fell in love with the vibrant nightlife of New York's Greenwich Village; and as you can see, today's drawing reflects his interest in nightclubs, performers, and bathhouses. Around this time, he produced numerous watercolors exploring these themes, often with subtly homoerotic undertones. In this composition three couples dance, including a pair of sailors dancing together, while others partner with women. The textured watercolor softens the boundary between figure and background, creating a sensual atmosphere that is both discreet and suggestive. Like many of his homoerotic works, Demuth kept this drawing private during his lifetime.

Hello, Pride Month!

P.S. Learn more about one of Charles Demuth's abstract masterpieces. It was inspired by ... a fire truck!