Who painted Port at Low Tide?

Port at Low Tide was painted by Frank Wilcox in 1935.

Where can I see Port at Low Tide?

Port at Low Tide is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

Artwork

Port at Low Tide

Frank Wilcox , 1935

Port at Low Tide is a print by Frank Wilcox. It dates from 1935 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Frank Wilcox’s print Port at Low Tide, dated around 1935, depicts a bustling harbor caught at the moment when the tide has receded. The composition centers on a large vessel stranded in shallow water, its hull resting on exposed mud, while figures crowd the scene loading and unloading cargo. The work is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection.

Subject & Meaning

The image captures a transient moment of labor and commerce, emphasizing the rhythmic activity of dockworkers and the interplay between natural and built environments. By portraying the vessel grounded at low tide, Wilcox highlights the dependence of maritime trade on tidal cycles and underscores the communal effort required to sustain a port’s operations.

Technique & Style

Executed in a print medium, the piece employs rapid, sketch‑like lines that convey immediacy and motion. Trees and structures are rendered with loose, gestural strokes, avoiding refined contours, while the crowded figures are suggested through energetic marks. This approach creates a sense of dynamism, as if the scene were captured in a quick field study.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1935, Port at Low Tide entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains on view. The work reflects Wilcox’s interest in American industrial and waterfront subjects during the interwar period, aligning with broader trends in American printmaking that documented everyday labor.