Pears and Grapes
Walt Kuhn
American, 1877–1949
1922
This lithograph presents two pears and a cluster of grapes reduced to bold, economical lines and tonal washes as the artist translates a humble still life into a modern, graphic composition.
What hits you first is the stark contrast between thick, expressive black contours and spare hatch marks that flatten volume into a decorative, almost carved silhouette against generous empty space.
Made in 1922, the print shows how American modernists used the directness of printmaking—simplification of form and emphasis on line—to move traditional still life toward a more design‑focused, modern visual language.
Medium
Lithograph
Dimensions
composition: 7 1/16 x 9 5/8" (18 x 24.5 cm); sheet: 9 13/16 × 12 13/16" (25 × 32.5 cm)
Classification
Department
Credit
Gift of Abby Aldrich Rockefeller
Accession
1075.1940
Palette
Art Terms
Exhibitions
