Fragaria Strawberry
1931
Ellen Isham Schutt wasn't just painting pretty leaves; she was doing serious science for the USDA in 1931. This detailed study of strawberry foliage captures the delicate veins and serrated edges with almost photographic precision, likely to help botanists identify specific cultivars. Notice how the top cluster is a pale, fresh green while the bottom one is a deep, textured emerald—it's a perfect lesson in plant anatomy before you even get to the fruit. Her work helped document thousands of fruit varieties for the government.
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- Watercolor
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