Crabbers

James Clarke Hook 1819 - 1907

Summary

Seasape with two bearded fishermen in rowing boat upon a choppy sea. One man holds onto the boat's oars and tries to control the small fishing vessel as it rises upon a high wave, the other holds a hooked rod in his right hand and pulls a crab out of a crabbing pot. In the background, two more fishermen can be seen in a rowing boat, and in the distance, sailing boats flight against the choppy sea. The sky above is grey and cloud covered.

Display Label

Crabbers 1876 James Clarke Hook 1819 – 1907 Oil on canvas The oarsman is trying to keep the boat still while his companion pulls the crab from the pot. The water is shallow and choppy near the rocks but the fishermen are not in peril. The scene is set in Hope Cove in Devon and the two fishermen are based on portraits of a father and son, the Thorntons of Hope Cove. Hook addressed a growing urban market for seascapes; his coastal views became known as 'Hookscapes'. Purchased 1904.6