Name/Title
Fishing Boat and Baldhead by Edgar A. RupprechtEntry/Object ID
2012.41.01Description
Edgar A. Rupprecht, "Fishing Boat Baldhead", 1931 - Watercolor 12"x10"
Rupprecht, a protege of Fursman, taught at Ox-Bow after 1929. We see Fursman's influence in the way Rupprecht handles the "rippling" of the river water.
In the 1930s, fishing shacks were still common along the Saugatuck waterfront. These shanties were a common subject for the OxBow painters.
Back of canvas:
"In searching for paintings for the exhibit I visited Love Gallery in Chicago which had quite a number of Rupprechts available, including one of the downtown Saugatuck village square, but it was way out of our price range.
They did, however, discover this small watercolor of what is probably the Kalamazoo River near the mouth of Moore's Creek with Baldhead in the background. It is unsigned but was with the collection and even Betsy Rupprecht seemed comfortabe with it being one of her father's works. He taught a class in color, and this painting shows an unusual use of color, one more thing in its favor.
The people at the gallery gave me a real break - under $200, as I recall - and I paid it then solicited donations and there were a couple. Bod Johnson is the one I remember, but I think there was one other so I suppose the society really does own it. It is on the Society inventory. - Kit Lane, November, 2008"Type of Painting
PanelCollection
ArtworksCataloged By
VanderJagt, AnnaAcquisition
Accession
2012.41Source or Donor
Lane, Kit 1939-2024Acquisition Method
DonationMade/Created
Artist
Rupprecht, Edgar A. 1889-1954Date made
1931Lexicon
Search Terms
Fishing, Fishing Boats, Baldhead, Rupprecht, Edgar, Rupprecht, Edgar A.Dimensions
Dimension Description
including frameHeight
10 inWidth
13 inLocation
Shelf
AC bay 07Room
Art Conservation RoomRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Rupprecht, Edgar A. 1889-1954, Water St. Fishing DocksInterpretative Labels
Label
Edgar A. Rupprecht
Fishing Boats and Baldhead
c. 1931 | watercolor
Notes: Rupprecht, a protégé of Fursman, taught at Ox-Bow after 1929. We see Fursman's influence in the way Rupprecht handles the "rippling" of the river water.
In the 1930s, fishing shacks were still common at the north end of Saugatuck. These shanties were a common subject for the Ox-Bow painters.
Collection: Saugatuck Douglas Historical Society
Gift Of: Bob Johnson (and possibly other donors, 1997)Label
From "Collecting the Lakeshore" 2025-2026 at the History Center main floor gallery
Edgar A. Rupprecht
1889-1954
Fishing Boat Baldhead
1931 | gouache on board
In the 1930s, fishing shanties were still common features along the Saugatuck waterfront as seen in many artworks gathered here. These picturesque shanties were a common subject for artists at OxBow as well as visiting artists like Detroiter Max Gerger (upper left). Rupprecht, a protege of Fursman, taught at Ox-Bow after 1929 and is included as one of the founding faculty members of the school.
The acquisition of the painting is a noteworthy story about the history of the SDHC’s art collection. Kit Lane described the process:
In searching for paintings for the [1997 Painting the Town] exhibit I visited Love Gallery in Chicago which had quite a number of Rupprechts available, including one of the downtown Saugatuck village square, but it was way out of our price range. They did, however, discover this small watercolor of what is probably the Kalamazoo River near the mouth of Moore's Creek with Baldhead in the background…He taught a class in color, and this painting shows an unusual use of color, one more thing in its favor.
The people at the gallery gave me a real break - under $200, as I recall - and I paid it, then solicited donations, and there were a couple.
Purchased for SDHC collection
Accession number 2012.41.01General Notes
Note
Status: OK
Status By: Anna VanderJagt
Status Date: 2012-05-21Create Date
May 21, 2012Update Date
September 15, 2026
