Monhegan Harbor

This watercolor is by American painter Sears Gallagher, an American artist known for his landscapes and in particular for his depictions of Monhegan, a small island located off the coast of Maine that became a refuge for artists at the turn of the 20th century.

This watercolor depicts a section of the harbor with a number of fishing vessels in the water with a small fisherman’s shack in the distance, framed by the rocky coast in the foreground and gently sloping hills in the background. A water bird perches on a pile in the water amidst the boats, while seagulls dot the sky overhead.

Gallagher completed a series of watercolors from this particular vantage point, showcasing a variety of atmospheric effects as well as scenes of the daily life of the local community.

Gallagher was one of the early members of the artists’ colony on Monhegan, painting some of his first works there around 1892. He continued to visit the island for over 40 years. Gallagher’s works are represented in the permanent collections of the Boston Museum of Fine Art, Art Institute of Chicago, Library of Congress, New York Public Library and Biblioteque Nationale in Paris.

Signed lower left: “Sears Gallagher”

Height: 9 ½ inches (24.1 cm)
Width: 13 inches (33 cm)