Charles Demuth: Calla Lilies Small Boxed Cards

Charles Demuth (American, 1883–1935)
Calla Lilies (Bert Savoy), 1927

Charles Demuth’s Calla Lilies (Bert Savoy) is a symbolic portrait of New York vaudeville actor and female impersonator Bert Savoy, rendered as a lyrical still life. The shell, wave, and lilies symbolize Savoy’s complex life. Demuth, a versatile artist, was fond of making such “poster portraits” of friends.