Buff Pussytoes (Antennaria luzuloides)

Art Historical Context

Mary Vaux Walcott'sBuff Pussytoes (Antennaria luzuloides)*, painted in 1917, the delicate beauty of this alpine wildflower native to North America. Rendered as a precise painting, the work showcases the plant's soft, fluffy blooms—hence its whimsical common name—highlighting Walcott's keen eye for natural detail. Donated by the artist herself to the Smithsonian American Art Museum, it now resides in the Smithsonian Collection, inviting visitors to appreciate the intersection of art and botany. Walcott, a pioneering artist and naturalist active in the early 20th century, created this piece ami...