Precisionism: Art of the inter-war period

Above: Paintings by Charles Demuth

Precisionism, also known as Cubist Realism,^[1] was an artistic movement that emerged in the United Statesafter World War I and was at its height during the inter-War period. The term itself was first coined in the early 1920s.

 Above: Paintings by Charles Sheeler

Fred Hoshiyama moved to San Francisco from his farm at Yomato Colony in 1929. He said moving to the city "was like heaven."  His family had electricity, plumbing, paved roads; Fred could go anywhere he wanted in the city by streetcar.  San Francisco underwent major changes during the 1930's... both the Bay, and Golden Gate bridges were built. The famous Coit tower, and numerous other monuments and buildings that would define San Francisco were constructed between the time Fred moved to the bay area, and when he left for Topaz.

Above: Paintings by Georgia O'Keeffe

Precisionism  visually describes the inter-war period of "Topaz-Diary" well. It is light, playful, and describes the construction and industry that was happening in San Francisco. It also is heavy enough to describe the depression that was happening all over the world.  But again, to Fred, who had been literally starving on the farm, depression era San Francisco was "like Heaven."