This is an interesting and surreally strong work by this artist. It contains elements of his best works, with its aggressive brush strokes and color usage. He diffuses his usually complete composition scene down to a segment of a ship and headland port, focusing primarily on the bow of what appears to be a large pleasure yacht, since it has the painted trailboard decoration, crisp white hull and sharp curve of a clipper bow. He details the primary tool of most harbors, a large anchor, and its chain-tethered suspension.
Textured water flashes and smooths out over the distance with its soft wake washing towards the anchored ship. Somber in overall cool tone, Mulhaupt illustrated some suggestive highlights to hint the sun may break through at any moment. It is still full of the chill cold of the ocean, and this tepid temperature carries to the tree-edged headland port, whether it is Gloucester, Rockport or a New York waterway.
We are sure its not Paris. The artist resided between there, New York and Gloucester, not settling full-time for Gloucester until 1922. Still this ship was most likely captured by him in Gloucester, on one of his early summers spent there perfecting with unique style and palette. Not listed as having been a sailor himself, he spent a substantial amount of time at sea in his travels, and was well familiar with the ports and ships of his day.
