Oil on board
In the 1910s, Sheeler spent time in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, where his neighbor, the American archaeologist Henry Chapman Mercer, had assembled a collection of vernacular objects and handmade tools—which were rapidly disappearing as the nation continued to industrialize. Sheeler drew inspiration from these antiques, just as he did from early American barns and Shaker craftsmanship, seeing them as points of departure for his artistic practice. “The way in which a building or table is planned and put together is as interesting to me and as applicable to my work as the way in which a painting is realized,” he later wrote.
American Folk Art: Revisiting the Collection of Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, June 13, 2026–August 09, 2026
Kids label from 2021
Imagine you could step into this scene. What sounds might you hear? What would you see off in the distance? Look for clues that tell you what season and time of day it might be. The artist, Charles Sheeler, made photographs and paintings of places, including factories, cities, and farms like the one in Bucks County Barn.
2021
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Revisiting the Collection of Abby Aldrich Rockefeller
3 SouthA champion of the avant-garde and a cofounder of MoMA, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller played a pivotal role in recognizing folk art as integral to the artistic traditions of the United States and to a modern and inclusive art history.
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