Artwork
Longhi on Broadway
Longhi on Broadway is an unspecified painting by the Ashcan School artist Charles Demuth. It dates from 1928 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.
About this work
Overview
Charles Demuth’s 1928 painting Longhi on Broadway is part of the collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Executed in oil on canvas, the work presents a tabletop still‑life composed of assorted objects against a plain white backdrop, inviting close inspection of color and form.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a dark‑green bottle draped with a vivid red mask, from which a few green leaves emerge. Surrounding the bottle are stacked books, magazines and sheets of paper rendered in orange, blue and white tones. The juxtaposition of everyday printed matter with the theatrical mask suggests a dialogue between the mundane and the performative.
Technique & Style
Demuth employs a precise, flattened perspective characteristic of Precisionist painting, emphasizing clean lines and sharp color contrasts. The smooth brushwork eliminates visible texture, while the limited palette, dominant greens, reds, and primary hues, creates a balanced visual rhythm. The stark white background isolates the objects, heightening their graphic presence.
History & Provenance
Created in the late 1920s, Longhi on Broadway reflects Demuth’s interest in modern urban life and commercial imagery. The painting entered the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’s holdings through acquisition in the mid‑20th century, where it has remained on view as part of the museum’s American art collection.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Henry Buckius Demuth (November 8, 1883 – October 23, 1935) was an American painter who specialized in watercolors and turned to oils late in his career, developing a style of painting known as Precisionism.
