Boats
c. 1949
Pen and ink, watercolor, and unfixed pastel on handmade laid paper
23.8 × 15.4 cm (9.4 × 6.1 in)
SEE IT IN PERSON
● On view now — Collection Gallery, Room 20, North Wall
Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia · verified July 2026
Discussion
FROM THE BARNES FOUNDATION’S CATALOG
In this microcosmic and dreamlike scene, a fleet of boats sails amid a pale marbled background that suggests clouds as much as water. Some are recognizable as sailboats—like the one at center, with a triangular sail; others look more like submarines, rockets, or a broom. The vertical orientation and delicate pen strokes heighten the sensation of floating.
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