Smoke Streamers

Two ships float on a body of water as trails of abstracted, jagged steam rise from their smokestacks. Among Feininger’s favorite subjects were maritime scenes captured in his distinct style, blending Cubism and Expressionism. In this watercolor, you can see another of Feininger’s major influences: Futurism—here captured in the hard lines and intersecting forms of the trailing smoke. Inspired by the technological advances of the 20th century, Feininger’s depiction of steam and smoke cutting into a washed-out sky celebrates the novelty of invention rather than the looming effects of coal-fired engines.