Shaker Stove c. 1938

This watercolor, titled "Shaker Stove," was made by John W. Kelleher, sometime between 1855 and 1995. The Shakers were a religious group that formed their own utopian communities in the United States, beginning in the late 18th century. Their beliefs included pacifism, communal ownership, equality of the sexes, and withdrawal from the outside world. The Shakers are perhaps best known today for their plain style of furniture, architecture, and clothing. The Shakers believed that making things well was an act of prayer. In its simplicity, the Shaker aesthetic expressed the idea that a life of devotion was incompatible with material extravagance. This image of a stove, devoid of any human presence, captures the Shaker aesthetic, showing the values of simplicity and utility in a functional object. This watercolor may have been made by Kelleher as part of a study of American design. The painting can be better understood through a study of Shaker religious beliefs and the history of American utopianism.