Style: Precisionism;
Place: Philadelphia
Born: 1883
Death: 1965
Biography:
, an American painter and photographer, was born in Philadelphia in 1883. He attended the Pennsylvania Museum School of Industrial Art from 1900 to 1903, followed by a traditional training in drawing and painting at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (1903-6). This education laid the foundation for his future success as a pioneer of Precisionism.
Sheeler's early work was influenced by his travels to Europe, where he developed an interest in the Italian painters of the late Middle Ages, particularly Giotto, Masaccio, and Piero della Francesca. In 1909, he visited the Paris home of Michael and Sarah Stein, early patrons of Picasso and Braque, which inspired him to work in a Cubist style. This exposure to various artistic movements shaped his unique Precisionist approach.
Sheeler taught himself photography, initially documenting local buildings for architects. He later photographed the interior of his own house, shaping its rough-hewn spaces with light and shadow. His work in photography led to the development of Precisionism, a style characterized by its focus on precision and accuracy.
Some of Sheeler's notable works include: