The Derelict, or the Lost Boat

1916

The Derelict, or the Lost Boat, 1916. Arthur Wesley Dow (American, 1857–1922). Color woodcut on Japanese paper; image: 14.6 x 10.1 cm (5 3/4 x 4 in.); sheet: 17.6 x 13.4 cm (6 15/16 x 5 1/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of James and Hanna Bartlett 2018.1070 The American artist Arthur Wesley Dow was an influential teacher, emphasizing the study of line, color, and form rather than direct observation from nature. Works such as this print, which depicts an abandoned rowboat, were inspired by Dow’s admiration for the flattened style of Japanese prints. He experimented by inking his woodblock with different combinations of color, often resulting in virtually unique impressions. Dow inked his woodblock with different colors each time he printed, resulting in unique variations of the same image.