The USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection

I find myself at the age where I begin to catch glimpses of my family in one another. In speaking to my grandfather, occasionally I hear the voice of my father. Of course each person is still an individual, as different ages and actions set them apart amongst other characteristics.

My grandfather, this past week, presented my family with a generous gift: 80 apples. Next year, this number will be the number of years my grandfather has lived. As I gaze at each apple, I am amazed. Each apple is painted a rich red hue. Each flavored so deliciously sweet and crisp. I stare at them all, some being as large as the lower half of my face. My grandfather’s gift not only reminded me of my admiration of fruit, but what he and I shared: a bond over Pomology.

Pomology, the science and practice of cultivating fruit, is quite an important but tedious study. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, photography was not widespread nor was it considered highly reliable. This led to the use of other visual records: paintings. 

Imagine 7000 of them. Over 7000 watercolor paintings of various varieties of fruits. Many heirloomed species. Aside from their aesthetic appearance, these images were also a visual guide and an aid to farmers. By 1942, the USDA had completed the project. The Pomological Watercolor Collection had achieved its long awaited conclusion.

There are various fruits in the Pomological Watercolor Collection: apples, berries, cherries, peaches, persimmons, and more. And all were painted by some 21 artists: most of whom were unnamed and women. Many of these works remain unsigned, indicating many unsung stories within the collection. But their contributions to scientists, farmers and American fruit consumers cannot be understated.

So as we tumble into fall, let us think of those artists.   As we set foot in an orchard, piling a basket high with ripe apples in their prime. When we go to the grocery store and see all the fruit laid out before us, stocking our carts and homes with such sweetness. Let us remember how it came to be. We are nothing if not the result of the times and people before us.