Frederick Mulhaupt (1871-1938) was an American painter specializing in
East coast harbour scenes and landscapes in the early 20th
century. He concentrated most of
his efforts in Cape Ann, Massachusetts, and often depicted the fishing and
working docks. Mulhaupt,
along with Winslow Homer, helped romanticize Gloucester with his beautiful
paintings that showed the area in every season.
He was often seen working on studies directly from life
which he then took back to his studio to help him create larger
masterpieces. These small works,
often 8”x10”, are full of energy, and show his keen eye for color and value.
In the selected painting, you can see
his frenetic brushwork rushing to capture the fading light of the day as the
shadows creep further into his frame.
He expertly implies detail with carefully layered paint that resembles a
jigsaw puzzle. What a gem!
