"Dark Harbor Fisherman," Newell Convers Wyeth

Newell Convers Wyeth (United States, 1882–1945), Dark Harbor Fishermen, 1943, tempera on hardboard (Renaissance Panel), 35 x 38 inches. Bequest of Elizabeth B. Noyce, 1996.38.63. Image courtesy of Luc Demers

Find me at CRESCENT BEACH STATE PARK!

Herring were once critical to Maine fishing industries and flourished here until the 1950s and 1960s, when stocks became drastically depleted. Wyeth used a dark palette throughout the composition to highlight the silvery, flashing quality of the depicted catch. The unusual perspective and lack of noticeable brushwork suggest the aesthetic of a photograph taken above at the dock, documenting a critical local industry.