Death Ship, H. C. Westermann

Artwork Overview

H. C. Westermann, Death Ship
H. C. Westermann, Death Ship
H. C. Westermann
Death Ship
1966
H. C. Westermann
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.

Resources

Audio

Didactic – Art Minute
Didactic – Art Minute