Charles SheelerAmerican, 1883–1965Western Industrial
Can I see it?
Not on view at present
Where is “Western Industrial” now? Collection: Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago. Not on view at present. Checked September 29, 2026.
Chicago, United States
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the painting
Often associated with the American artistic group known as the Precisionists, Charles Sheeler was both a painter and a photographer. This late work, Western Industrial, depicts the Inland Steel plant in East Chicago, Indiana. Evident here is the artist’s interest in line and overlapping shapes, his restrained painting style, and his use of subdued color. The many diagonals leading the eye to various points in the composition give the impression of an active industry; however, the plant is devoid of humans. Indeed, a critic once referred to one of Sheeler’s works as a “depopulated landscape.”
Art Institute of ChicagoCC BY 4.0
Details
- Accession number
- 1977.12
What it shows
In the catalog
Sources
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Image: Art Institute of Chicago — © the artist or rights holder
