White Radiance

Born in Toronto, Canada, in 1880, Henrietta Shore was one of the most original and forward looking American Modernist painters of the early 20th century. A visionary, "Critics repeatedly deemed her an artist with unlimited potential, certain one day to attain world-wide recognition. Arthur Miller, long-time critic for the Los Angeles Times, asserted in 1927 that 'Miss Shore is unquestionably one of the most important living painters of this century, as strong as any on the west coast for a synthesis of intellectual, technical and aesthetic qualities in her latest work.'" (J.F. Hernandez, ed., Henrietta Shore, A Retrospective Exhibition: 1900-1963, exhibition catalogue, Monterey, California, 1986, p. 9).

The present work demonstrates the artist's intimate connection to nature, which profoundly informed her art, imbuing each canvas with a pulsing sense of life. Set against a bright blue background, the beauty of the flower is centered for the viewer's appreciation. Other works by Shore can be found in numerous institutional collections, including the Smithsonian Museum of American Art, Washington, D.C.; the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; and the Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco, California.