Charles Sheeler's "Two Against the White" Postage Stamps (Four Centuries of American Art Series, Abstract, Architecture, Farm) Vintage Unused USPS Postage 32c

These vintage unused postage stamps will evoke a touch of whimsy and add personality to your mailings!

STAMP INFORMATION:

• Name: Charles Sheeler’s “Two Against the White" 
• Series: Four Centuries Of American Art
• Year Issued: 1998
• Face Value: 32 cents each (USD)
• Topic(s): Fine Art, American Artists, Paintings, Modern Art, Abstract, Precisionism, Still Life, Architecture, Farm
• Color(s): Multicolored 
• Printing Method: Photogravure
• Adhesion Type: Gummed
• Condition: Genuine Unused USPS Postage Stamps, Ready to Use for USPS Mailings, Mint Condition

STAMP HISTORY: This postage stamp featuring Charles Sheeler’s painting Two Against the White (1957) was part of the Four Centuries of American Art series. Two Against the White is a precisionist still life, featuring an abstract representation of an industrial American farm setting set against a stark white background. The composition is minimalist and geometric, reflecting Sheeler’s signature style of Precisionism, which emphasized clean lines, sharp contrasts, and a modernist approach to everyday subjects. The objects are positioned with careful balance, creating a sense of harmony, stability, and quiet contemplation. The painting focuses on form, light, and shadow, rather than elaborate detail, making the objects appear almost sculptural. The contrast between the dark and light objects symbolizes duality and balance, a recurring theme in Sheeler’s work.

Charles Sheeler (1883–1965) was a key figure in American modernism and Precisionism, blending realism and abstraction in his depictions of industrial landscapes and still life compositions. Two Against the White demonstrates his mastery of form and light, transforming simple household objects into a study of modern aesthetics and balance. The painting reflects the influence of photography, which Sheeler often used as part of his artistic process, leading to his distinctive crisp, structured style. As one of Sheeler’s later works, Two Against the White shows his shift from industrial subjects to more intimate and refined compositions, focusing on the beauty of everyday objects. This postage stamp celebrates Sheeler’s contribution to modern American art, highlighting his ability to find elegance, structure, and meaning in simplicity.

STAMP MEANING & SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE: Sheeler’s Two Against the White holds both artistic and spiritual significance. Sheeler’s work often focused on industrial and architectural subjects, presenting them in a highly stylized, almost otherworldly manner. The clean, geometric forms in Two Against the White can represent a spiritual meditation on the harmony between man-made structures and the natural world, reflecting an ideal of unity, order, and balance. The title itself hints at a duality—the two figures or elements that stand against an expansive, perhaps overwhelming, white background could symbolize the individual’s role in contrast to the vastness of the universe. Sheeler's embrace of modernism, while focused on industrialization and technology, also holds a deeper metaphysical potential. Modernism sought to break away from traditional religious symbolism, yet it often had an underlying quest for transcendence or meaning through form, structure, and abstraction. The stark contrast of the figures against the white background could suggest a journey toward a higher understanding or state of being, with the white space representing purity, potential, or the divine. Sheeler was known for his interest in American industry, particularly the precision and beauty he saw in mechanical and industrial forms. The idea of the “Two” standing against the “White” could be interpreted as a metaphor for the tension or balance between the industrialized world and spiritual purity. The white background might represent the vast, often impersonal forces of nature or society, while the two forms might symbolize the resilience or spiritual strength of humanity, pushing back against the forces of modernity. By placing Sheeler’s work on a postage stamp, the USPS elevates the image, acknowledging both its artistic and possibly spiritual resonance with the public.

SERIES HISTORY: The Four Centuries of American Art postage stamp series was issued by the United States Postal Service (USPS) on August 27, 1998 in Santa Clara, California, as a pane of 20 commemorative stamps, each with a face value of 32-cents, celebrating the rich history of American visual arts. The purpose of this landmark USPS release, celebrating 20 iconic works from colonial portraiture to modern Pop Art, was to honor the diversity and innovation of American artists across four centuries. This series showcases notable paintings and sculptures from the 17th through the 20th centuries, reflecting the evolution of artistic expression in the United States. Each stamp in this collection depicts a masterpiece from a different time period, spanning from the colonial era to modern American art. The selection includes portraits, landscapes, historical depictions, and abstract works, representing a wide range of artistic styles and movements. This series showcases the diversity of American art across different eras and styles, includes both traditional and avant-garde pieces, reflecting shifts in American society, and serves as a lasting teaching tool to introduce the public to significant American artists.

GUMMED STAMP: This postage stamp has a traditional moisture-activated gum on the back. These stamps require licking or wetting to adhere to envelopes or other surfaces. To ensure good adhesion, apply vintage gummed stamps to your mailings with a glue stick (we recommend using Elmer's "Re-Stick" glue sticks).

GENUINE USPS POSTAGE: These unused vintage postage stamps are perfectly valid for use as current postage for mailing with USPS as long as you use the adequate amount of postage to achieve standard postage rates according to the weight of your mailing. Check current postage rates at USPS.com.

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