Citrus limon 4
1910
Ellen Isham Schutt didn't just paint perfect fruit; she painted the reality of agriculture, even the rotting parts. This detailed study captures a lemon with a large, dark brown patch of decay at the top, contrasting with the bright yellow skin below. The cross-section reveals the pale segments and thick rind with scientific precision. Created for the USDA around 1911, this watercolor is part of a massive project to document American fruit varieties and diseases. The handwritten notes indicate the specimen was sent by a grower in Pasadena, California, making this a vital historical record of early 20th-century citrus farming.
- Technique
- Watercolor
- Material
- Paper