Watercolor

Art Historical Context

This vibrant *Watercolor* by Eugene B. Cunningham, in 1882, the spiritual artistry of the United Society of Believers in’s Second Appearing, known as the Shakers Produced within their tight-knit American communities, which emphasized simplicity, communal living, and celibacy, this ink and watercolor on paper measures an impressive 29½ × 23½ inches. Shaker "gift drawings" like this one were often seen as divine inspirations, blending folk art traditions with religious symbolism during a period when the sect was waning in the late 19th century. The composition bursts with motifs of birds, flowers, and leaves, rendered in delicate ink outlines and luminous watercolor washes. These elements symbolize spiritual harmony, renewal, and the beauty of God's creation—core Shaker beliefs. Cunningham's technique highlights the movement's aesthetic of orderly symmetry and vivid color, contrasting their famously austere furniture and architecture. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, this piece offers a window into Shaker culture's creative devotion. Acquired through the Friends of the American Wing Fund in 1966, it celebrates a unique chapter of American religious art, inviting visitors to ponder the intersection of faith, nature, and handmade beauty.

About the Artist

Eugene B. Cunningham|United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing (“Shakers”) ( |American) · |1750 – |9999

|American, active ca. 1750–present