“White Irises in Motion” — Watercolor & Ink Floral by Jack Herland | Mid-Century Botanical Art

This luminous watercolor by Jack Herland (1919–2005) captures a cluster of white irises painted with pale blue and lavender washes, animated by his signature calligraphic ink linework. A perfect example of Herland’s East-West stylistic fusion, the work combines Chinese brush elegance with modernist gesture, resulting in a floral composition that feels fresh, spontaneous, and timeless.

Ideal for collectors of botanical watercolors, New York modernists, and expressive floral imagery.

DETAILED ARTWORK DESCRIPTION

Jack Herland (1919–2005)
Untitled Iris Study — Watercolor & Ink on Paper
Approx. 26 x 20 inches | Signed lower right “Herland”
Acquired NYC | Ex-Mitch Moore Gallery Collection

This expressive watercolor floral by Jack Herland presents a cluster of white irises rendered with airy washes of pale blue, lavender, mint, and soft celadon. Herland’s brushwork is deliberately loose yet structurally confident—each petal defined by quick, calligraphic ink lines that loop, arc, and taper with the spontaneity of Chinese brush technique.

The irises burst outward from linear foliage painted in vertical strokes of pale green, sage, and sea-glass tones, creating a rhythmic upward movement characteristic of Herland’s botanical compositions. The painting balances translucency and gesture, allowing the paper’s natural luminosity to illuminate the blossoms from within.

The work demonstrates Herland’s fusion of Eastern and Western influences: the delicacy of watercolor executed with the dynamic contour drawing he developed under professor Wang Chi Yuan, combined with the modernist abstraction and gestural emphasis absorbed from artists such as John Groth and Stuart Davis.

This is a quintessential late-20th-century Herland floral—elegant, lyrical, and executed with the relaxed mastery of an artist deeply fluent in his medium.

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY — JACK HERLAND (1919–2005)

German-American Modernist | New York Painter | Floral & Decorative Arts Specialist

Born in Germany and immigrating to the United States at age sixteen, Jack Herland established his artistic career in New York beginning in the late 1930s. His training included:

• John Groth — expressive drawing & illustration

• Stuart Davis — modernist composition

• Wang Chi Yuan — classical Chinese brush painting

Herland served during WWII, and afterward expanded his art practice into fine art, industrial design, custom decorative glass and china, and adult art instruction. His work is marked by:

• Fluid watercolor technique

• Calligraphic, expressive linework

• Botanicals, florals, still lifes, and textured impasto acrylics

• A harmonious blend of Eastern brush philosophy and Western modernism

Exhibitions (Selective)

• National Arts Club, New York

• China Institute, New York

• Hudson Museum

• Riverdale Neighborhood House

Herland is listed in Who’s Who in Art and represented historically by the Mitch Moore Gallery, NYC, which helped circulate many of his floral works during the 1960s–1980s. His pieces remain desirable for collectors of modern botanical art, New York School watercolorists, and mid-century decorative fine art.

Jack Herland (1919–2005)
Untitled Iris Study
Watercolor & Ink on Paper
Signed lower right
Ex-Mitch Moore Gallery, NYC → Artfind Gallery, Washington DC

Expressive iris floral rendered with Herland’s signature brush-and-ink technique. Excellent, frame-ready condition.

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

Artist: Jack Herland (1919–2005)
Title: White Irises in Motion (assigned catalog title)
Medium: Watercolor & Ink on Paper
Dimensions: Approx. 26 × 20 inches
Signature: Lower right “Herland”
Date: c. 1970s–1980s
Provenance:

1. Private Collection, NYC

2. Retired Mitch Moore Gallery Inventory

3. Artfind Gallery, Washington DC (current owner)

Condition:
Excellent; no tears, staining, or discoloration. Paper stable and bright.

PROVENANCE CHAIN

1. Artist: Jack Herland (1919–2005)

2. Private Collection, New York

3. Mitch Moore Gallery (retired inventory)

4. Artfind Gallery, Washington DC — Current Owner