The Red Steamshovel c. 1930s

Edgar Nye made this watercolor, "The Red Steamshovel," capturing a moment that feels both industrial and strangely pastoral. There's a looseness to Nye’s touch, the way he lets the watercolor flow and bleed, especially in those rolling, almost cartoonish clouds. It's like he's not trying to nail down every detail, but instead, he is letting the scene breathe. The texture is smooth, and the paper shines through in parts. Look at how the red of the steamshovel pops against the muted yellows and blues. It’s not hyper-realistic, but it has a real presence. The shadows are cast in a really bold way around the base of the steamshovel, almost like child's drawing. It reminds me a bit of Marsden Hartley's American scenes but with a folkier twist. Nye gives us a slice of life, a construction scene imbued with a sense of place and time that feels uniquely American. It's like he’s saying, "Here we are, building, changing, but still, always, a little bit dreamy.”