Bring the sunny, natural warmth and rich historical charm of early 20th-century tropical agriculture into your home with this exceptional vintage botanical art print. Originally hand-painted circa 1905 by the celebrated USDA scientific illustrator Ellen Isham Schutt, this exquisite watercolor captures a beautiful cluster of ripe “Ynjerto” bananas (Musa), sourced from the historic botanical collector J. A. McDowell in Mexico City, Mexico.

Featuring three plump, golden-yellow bananas hanging gracefully from a robust, textured stem, this meticulously restored print preserves the artist’s original handwritten archival details and delicate graphite guidelines. Set against an open, naturally warm ivory backdrop, this piece achieves a tranquil, organic aesthetic that effortlessly elevates modern walls with a touch of classic agricultural history.

The History: Ellen Isham Schutt (1873–1955) was a premier and highly prolific illustrator for the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Division of Pomology during the golden age of American botanical art. At the turn of the 20th century, the USDA collaborated with international collectors like John A. McDowell—a prominent botanist and nursery owner based in Mexico City—to catalog promising tropical fruit cultivars. This particular specimen, a variety of banana known as “Ynjerto” (an archaic Spanish spelling of injerto, meaning “grafted” or hybrid), was logged under USDA specimen number 32317 and painted by Schutt. Today, her original masterworks are preserved within the permanent archives of the National Agricultural Library, serving as a national treasure of global agricultural history.

The Aesthetic: A gorgeous showcase of early 20th-century scientific realism, this composition uses a clean, centered layout to highlight the rich, buttery colors of the tropical fruit. Schutt masterfully layers shades of bright canary yellow, warm ochre, and soft amber to depict the smooth, curving peels, adding realistic brown flecks and dark, textured tips to show perfect ripeness. The bunch is bound together by a thick, woody stem painted in deep, earthy brown tones. Grounded by authentic, elegant archival cursive displaying the historical specimen number, McDowell’s collection location, and Schutt’s signature, this high-contrast print adds an effortless layer of academic and naturalistic charm to any space.

It is an ideal statement piece for:

Culinary enthusiasts, home chefs, plant collectors, tropical gardeners, historians, and collectors of vintage scientific diagrams and botanical watercolors.
Warm modern kitchens, dining rooms, breakfast alcoves, cozy home libraries, or as a vibrant pop of color on a gallery wall.
Biophilic, Japandi, mid-century modern, bohemian, or transitional interior design styles that value clean, minimal spaces paired with warm, storied focal points.

Product Details

Artist: Ellen Isham Schutt – Vintage USDA Pomological Illustrator

Title: Ynjerto Banana (Musa Specimen Study)

Subject: Antique Mexican Banana Watercolor and Archival USDA Notation

Original Year: c. 1905

Style: Early 20th-Century Scientific Watercolor / Vintage Botanical Fine Art

Museum-Quality Vintage Prints

Our vintage posters are made to order using premium Giclée printing techniques. Every piece is printed on thick, heavyweight fine art paper (200gsm) with a smooth, completely matte finish.

We specifically source an acid-free, natural-toned paper that perfectly recreates the warmth and authentic character of original mid-century lithographs. Unlike standard glossy posters, our premium matte finish ensures there is zero glare when your artwork is framed behind glass, resulting in a rich, museum-quality display. Combined with long-lasting, UV-resistant pigment inks, your print is designed to remain vibrant for generations.