Wessel, Bessie H. (nee Hoover, American, 1889-1973) 4 American artists

The composition presents a harbor scene, dominated by tightly packed buildings rising from the waters edge. The artist has chosen a perspective that emphasizes the density and verticality of the urban environment; structures appear almost to press against one another, creating a sense of enclosure. A series of small boats are moored along the waterfront, their reflections distorted and fragmented in the rippling surface of the water.
The palette is restrained, primarily utilizing variations of white, grey, green, and touches of red-orange. The colors arent blended smoothly; instead, they are applied with distinct brushstrokes, contributing to a textured appearance that suggests both solidity and an underlying instability. Light seems to emanate from the upper left corner, casting shadows across the buildings and water, further accentuating their forms.
The artist’s handling of form is noteworthy. Buildings arent rendered realistically; instead, they are simplified into geometric blocks with flat planes of color. This reduction contributes to a sense of abstraction, moving beyond mere representation towards an exploration of shape and spatial relationships. The boats, too, are stylized, their forms reduced to essential outlines and shapes.
The water itself is not depicted as a tranquil surface but rather as a dynamic field of reflections. These fragmented images of the buildings and boats create a visual echo, blurring the boundaries between reality and its mirrored counterpart. This effect contributes to an overall feeling of ambiguity; it’s difficult to discern precise depth or spatial relationships within the scene.
Subtly, theres a sense of melancholy conveyed through the muted color scheme and the compressed composition. The tightly packed buildings suggest confinement, while the stillness of the boats implies inactivity or perhaps even abandonment. While the light suggests a moment of clarity, it doesn’t dispel the overall feeling of quiet introspection that permeates the work. It is not a celebratory depiction of maritime life but rather an observation of its inherent solitude and the weight of the built environment upon it.