Untitled c. 1880s

This is an undated etching by Thomas Clarkson Parrish, showing boats in a harbor. It seems to picture an American scene; we can see a tall obelisk or monument similar to the Washington Monument. Looking at this print, we might ask what it tells us about the cultural values of its time. Was Parrish self-consciously attempting to create a national art? The image offers a tranquil vision of sailing boats, of leisure, trade, and perhaps travel to far-off places. The presence of the obelisk, which we might take as a symbol of national ambition, suggests an attempt to relate these quotidian activities to a larger and more meaningful historical context. To truly understand this work, we would need to know more about the artist's biography, and the cultural institutions that shaped his vision. Resources such as exhibition catalogues, private correspondence, and historical society records might give us a clearer sense of the cultural and political meanings that the image held in its time.