Untitled (Death Ship)
1976
Artist
- H.C. Westermann, American, 1922-1981
- Born: Los Angeles, CA
- Work Locations: Chicago, IL, Los Angeles, CA
Country
United States
Object
drawing
Medium
graphite on paper
Accession Number
2014.123
Credit Line
Gift of the Eleanor and Henry Hitchcock Foundation
Gift of the Eleanor and Henry Hitchcock Foundation
Dimensions
sheet height: 8 in, 20.3200 cm; sheet width: 10 in, 25.4000 cm; frame height: 13 in, 33.0200 cm; frame width: 15 in, 38.1000 cm
Inscription
"For Joanna—Love Done while at jury duty, Jan 1976"
Department
Modern and Contemporary Art
Collection
Modern and Contemporary Art
"Untitled (Death Ship)" is a particularly personal expression, not only because of the inscription across the bottom of the image, “For Joanna—Love Done while at jury duty, Jan 1976,” but also because of the artist’s time spent as a marine in the Pacific in WWII. Throughout his life’s work, H.C. Westermann returned over and over to his WWII combat experiences. The idea of death at sea and his larger belief in humanity’s indifference to life haunted him for the rest of his life and inspired a great number of his works.
Exhibition History
- "Collectibles Exhibition: Works on Paper" - March 8, 2015 to August 16, 2015 (DAM)
- “The Light Show” — Denver Art Museum, 5/19/2019 – 3/7/2021
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