Death Ship

H. C. Westermann, artist

1922–1981

Death Ship, 1966

Where object was made: United States

Material/technique: wash; stamps; pen; wove paper; watercolor; ink

Dimensions:
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 34.3 x 25.1 cm
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 13 1/2 x 9 7/8 in
Mat Dimensions (Height x Width): 19 x 14 in

Credit line: Anonymous gift

Accession number: 1982.0056

Not on display

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Label texts

Exhibition Label:
"Conflicting Memories," Oct-2003, Steve Goddard
In 1942, H.C. Westermann enlisted in the Marine Corps and soon served as a gunner on an aircraft carrier. The unshakable memories of bombed and foundering ships giving off "the horrible smell of death," as he described it on several occasions, led to a recurrent theme in his art: the Death Ship. On this version of 1966, sent to his friend, Kansas City sculptor Richard Hollander, Westermann wrote:

Dear Richard, This is my favorite drawing +
I have done it hundreds of times - over +
over + I never get tired of doing it. Of
course it changes a little - Perhaps I’ve
sent you one? There is no explanation
for it + it bugs me.