Ochre Editions
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The 20th century

Works made in the 20th century, anywhere in the world.

189 works · hang 2832 ·

The rooms are imagined; every work on their walls is real.

Walk this roomRehang this room

Section 1, north wall

  1. This painting depicts a group of men and women created by a collection of angular, geometric shapes with flat planes and blocks of color. One person is standing, and they appear to be a bare-chested man with tan skin and short, dark hair, who is wearing red shorts. He has his hand on his hip and looks off to the right. At his feet appear to be several seated people, although they are only partially visible. Three women with pale skin seem to be facing away from us; we can see their legs, arms, and torsos, although these don't all fit together. The woman on the left has blonde hair, the woman on the right has brown hair, and the woman between them has short black hair. None of their faces are visible. In the middle of this group, at the center of the painting, we see the face and hand of another person who is looking to the left. This person has light brown skin, and we can't see the rest of their body. Surrounding elements include a blue sky with abstract cloud forms, an angular tree on the left, and patches of brown, white, and green on the ground, with one red flower. A tan rectangle under a red triangle on the right edge suggests a building.
    The BathersRoger de La Fresnaye, 1912Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. In the Cascade Mountains, by Edward Bruce, 1931
    In the Cascade MountainsEdward Bruce, 1931Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
  3. This is a drawing of a tool with intricate patterns. The tool appears elongated with a pronged end, and features symmetrical geometric designs etched along the handle. The drawing also includes a side profile showing its slender form.
    ForkAnthony Zuccarello, c. 1936Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Section 1, south wall

  1. On the Beach, No. 3, by Maurice Prendergast, c. 1915–18
    On the Beach, No. 3Maurice Prendergast, c. 1915–18Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art
  2. The image shows a tall, narrow wooden table with a square top and four long, slender legs. The color palette is warm with shades of light brown and reddish-brown on the table. Positioned centrally, the table stands against a plain, light-colored background.
    Shaker StandRay Holden, c. 1936Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  3. The image depicts a person standing upright. The person has a round face with a small mouth and rosy cheeks, and their hair is styled smoothly with a middle part. They are wearing a long-sleeved dress with a checkered pattern in subdued colors, highlighted with blue bands around the sleeves and hem. The dress has a fitted bodice and a full skirt. Bare feet are visible under the dress. The background is plain and neutral, and there is a signature in the lower right corner.
    Doll - "Emily"Rex F. Bush, c. 1938Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  4. Mountain Landscape with Fir Trees, by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, 1918/19
    Mountain Landscape with Fir TreesErnst Ludwig Kirchner, 1918/19Courtesy of the Cleveland Museum of Art

Section 2, south wall

  1. The image shows a large hat with a broad brim, decorated with a ribbon and floral or lace-like embellishments. The color palette consists of shades of gray and soft purples. The hat is centered in the frame, with its brim curving to the left and the decorative elements extending to the sides.
    BonnetRosalia Lane, 1935/1942Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. October (cover illustration for Harper's Magazine), by William Clarke Rice, 1903
    October (cover illustration for Harper's Magazine)William Clarke Rice, 1903Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
  3. Shown from the lap up, a pale-skinned woman with an oval face and long neck sits facing us in this vertical painting. The portrait is created with areas of mottled colors outlined with black lines. Her body faces us, and she looks out with pale blue eyes, the irises almost white. Her thin eyebrows slope down the sides and her small, dark peach lips are closed. Golden-orange hair is piled atop her head and a few bangs fall onto her high forehead. Black oval earrings hang from her lobes. Her shoulders also slope unnaturally down. Her mint-green shirt has a scooped neckline and elbow-length sleeves, and it appears to be tucked into a brown skirt or pants. The background is honey orange in the top left quadrant, amber brown in the lower left, and a russet brown door with windows across the top fills the right half. The artist signed the top right corner, “modigliani.”
    Girl in a Green BlouseAmedeo Modigliani, 1917Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  4. This is a drawing of a wooden window shutter in a light-colored wall. The detailed study shows the craftsmanship of the shutter, with a focus on texture, form, wood grain, and panels. The aged and weathered texture suggests exposure to the elements. The shutter is secured with a metal latch in the center. The wall is subtly shaded to imply depth and setting, with slight distress marks adding to the aged ambiance of the scene.
    Sacristy Door at Mission San Juan BautistaEthel Dougan, 1938Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Section 2, north wall

  1. From under an elevated train track, we look at a cluster of people hammering and working on the far side of a wooden fence, all against a silvery-blue building that fills most of the background in this horizontal painting. The scene is loosely painted mostly in tones of hazy and saturated blues, so many of the details are indistinct. About a quarter of the way in from the right edge of the composition, a thin iron column holds up the train platform. The column nearly spans the height of the painting, and the track it supports runs across the top edge of the canvas. At the foot of the column, along the bottom edge, are two parallel tracks embedded in an area otherwise painted with short, diagonal strokes in topaz blue, olive green, and straw yellow. Just beyond the tracks, the split-rail wooden fence runs across most of the painting, though there is an opening at the left edge of the canvas. A man sits with his back to us on the railing to our right of center. He wears a dark cap, a lapis-blue shirt, and navy-blue pants. Several men work on or near a mound-shaped form, perhaps a piece of machinery, just beyond the fence, near the center of the painting. One man holds a hammer high overhead while another reaches down or strikes the mound with his feet planted wide. More people work together to our left, and a man to our right stands near a crane. The people and these areas are painted with broad strokes and touches of cobalt blue, charcoal gray, khaki brown, and a few swipes of shell pink and bright white. A puff of white smoke billows up behind the central group, before the land drops precipitously away. The chasm is painted with shimmering tones of aquamarine and cerulean blue. A sky-blue, rectangular building perches at the far edge. A few windows are outlined in royal blue to our left but the rest of the building is loosely painted with long, vertical strokes so no architectural details can be made out. Behind this structure are more city buildings, suggested with strokes of muted rust red, parchment and bright white, and cobalt blue. The ice-blue sky fills the band between the top of the buildings and the train track running overhead. The artist signed his name near the lower left corner, “BELLOWS.”
    Blue MorningGeorge Bellows, 1909Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. Admiral Sir David Beatty, Lord Beatty, by Cecilia Beaux, ca. 1920
    Admiral Sir David Beatty, Lord BeattyCecilia Beaux, ca. 1920Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
  3. Pont des Arts, by H. Lyman Saÿen, 1908-1911
    Pont des ArtsH. Lyman Saÿen, 1908-1911Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum

Section 3, north wall

  1. This is a painting of a vintage fire hose cart. It is intricately designed, featuring a four-wheeled cart meant to hold a coiled fire hose. The painting showcases the cart's wooden spoked wheels and hose mechanism, as well as ornate wrought iron designs and a brass figure. A bell is depicted above one wheel. The painting captures the craftsmanship of the era and is reminiscent of the style of Charles Demuth, known for his attention to detail and focus on industrial and architectural elements.
    Fire Hose ReelHans Mangelsdorf, c. 1938Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. This is a drawing of a decorative family record. The central feature is a structure resembling a classical monument or altar labeled "FAMILY RECORD" at the top. The structure has columns and a pediment with names and dates. Flanking the list are two figures holding flowers, dressed in long gowns of blue and white. Above the structure are two large urns and a floral arrangement with pink flowers and green foliage. The background is a soft, neutral color. Green leaves and small flowers further embellish the scene.
    Family Record of Susan B. AnthonyJohn Wilkes, c. 1937Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington