Watermelon by Clark Summers Marshall
1896
Oil on canvas
15” x 21”
This mouth-watering painting of a watermelon was made by Eastern Shore artist Clark Summers Marshall for a “Mr. Roberts of Easton.” There was far greater diversity in crop variation in the region one hundred years ago; particularly in fruit production. By contrast, today’s large crops of soybeans, wheat, and corn threaten the biodiversity of farming on the Chesapeake. Wouldn’t it be a good thing to get back to some of the earlier practices?