The Produce Art Gallery

Public Domain Collection

USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection

“In 1887 the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Division of Pomology began hiring artists to render illustrations of fruit varieties for lithographic reproduction in USDA articles, reports, and bulletins. Use of color lithography was critically important to enable the farmer to visualize and comprehend the subjects and principles covered in a particular publication. As a historic botanical resource, this collection documents new fruit and nut varieties, and specimens introduced to the United States from other countries. These images have scientific, artistic, and historical significance.”

Photography

USDA Agricultural Research Service Photography

The ARS Image Gallery contains over 6,500 high-quality, public domain photographs documenting American agriculture and food science. These images are copyright-free and available for educational and commercial use.

The people behind the paintings

About the Artists

The USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection was created by approximately 21 artists, many of whom were women — one of the few professional artist positions open to women at the turn of the 20th century. The most prolific contributors were: