By: Bob Woodruff

Bob Woodruff — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 21:25:22 +0000

I’ve built and sailed Swampscott dories for years. While I’ve never fished from one, (Homer’s are Banks Dories, the core of the schooner fleet, for which Gloucester is so famous). I think I can add to the description here of the background of The Herring Net. This painting is probably of Georges Bank, east of Cape Cod, where centuries of herring fishing was done, but could be the Grand Banks of Newfoundland as well, where the Fog Warning is depicted- I would guess. First, the gear they are wearing is heavy oiled cotton, hence the term “oil skins”, or “oilies”. The headgear is called a “sou’wester” – standard fishing gear, with broad brim and tail to make water go where it should – whether “green water” spray, or driving, freezing rain. The lad has his weight well to port to counterbalance the strain his mate is creating in hauling the net over the starboard rail. Note the dory is drawn BENEATH the net, which is anchored, and buoyed, and with fish weighs tons. They may fill the dory to the point of danger of being swamped, although the more weight it has, the more stable it becomes – to a degree!! As the doryman was paid by the fish or the pound, he tended to overload the dory, creating a conflict that cost many a Gloucesterman his life. Note the net under the boy. He’s making sure it is clear of fish, and kelp and not snarled in any way before it is deployed to port. If Homer didn’t go dorying himself (it is unclear), he certainly talked to the men who did, and learned much that is subtly told in his masterful “Fog Warning”of the Halibut/Cod fishers of the Grand Banks, and the Georges men, depicted in “The Herring Net”. At 86, I’ve just used Homer’s works as an inspiration for my solo dory voyage – into acrylics. It’s one thing to attempt to duplicate a great artist’s works. It’s another to attempt to create FROM SCRATCH a painting so filled with the drama! An everyday activity, that exploited human and natural resources to the maximum. But also a way of life that many men found more exciting than being landsmen!

By: Tammy ankrom

Tammy ankrom — Wed, 19 Jun 2019 06:23:57 +0000

Hi my name is tammyAnkrom . and I have a painting . The Life Line. Im sure its by window . it has a little rip in it but can be repaired and the back of from has old nails how do i sell it ? Is it worth anything

Comments on: The Herring Net

By: Bob Woodruff

By: Tammy ankrom