Bermuda, Stairway 1917

Charles Demuth made this watercolor, Bermuda, Stairway, most likely in the 1910s or 20s, with diluted washes of subtle, muted tones. It's like he was trying to capture not just the look but also the feel of the place. I can imagine Demuth standing there, squinting at the Bermudan light, trying to break down the scene into its basic shapes. He simplifies the architecture, reducing the stairway to a series of rectangles and triangles. The staircase doesn't seem to lead anywhere in particular; it’s more about the play of light and shadow, the abstract composition, than any real place. It reminds me a little of those early Cubist paintings, but with a softer, more whimsical touch. I bet Demuth was fascinated by Cezanne, like so many artists of his generation. Painting is such a conversation across time, everyone reacting and building on what came before.