Lobsterman's Cove 1941

This is Stow Wengenroth’s lithograph, Lobsterman's Cove; the date is unknown but he was working most actively in the middle of the 20th century. Look at the surface of this image, which is like a field of tiny strokes. I wonder about the patient work it took to create the image. Each small mark feels deliberate, building up layer upon layer to create the final scene. You can feel the rough texture of the wooden shack and the rounded forms of the lobster traps, all rendered with such care and precision. I can imagine Wengenroth sitting there, maybe with a cup of coffee, carefully observing and translating the world around him into these delicate marks. The scene has a quiet, contemplative mood. The lack of color directs our attention to the forms and textures, to the simple, everyday beauty of this coastal scene. Wengenroth’s realism shares something with the work of artists like Edward Hopper who were also drawn to the everyday. And, while it lacks the overt expressiveness of abstract painters, there's a clear emotional investment and a distinctive visual language.