01 Classic Works of Art, Marine Paintings - With Footnotes, #148

Arthur Sarnoff

Hook Oars and Stand By

Oil on canvas

24 x 36 in. (60.9 x 91.4 cm.)

Private Collection

There are typically five oarsmen under the headsman in a whaleboat. The oarsman in the bow of the boat is the harpooneer -- he whose job it is to stick the sharp-pointed arrow-headed iron spear into the body of the whale to "fasten" to it (it's a huge fish hook, if you will). After a "Nantucket sleigh ride" (about which, more later), the mate and the harpooneer trade places, so the mate as headman in the bow can get the honor of dispatching the whale by driving a long lance into the whale's "life". At this juncture, the harpooneer has wound up at the stern, where he mans the steering oar, so he is also the boat-steerer! More on this painting

Arthur Sarnoff (born 1912 in Brooklyn, New York, died 2000 in Boca Raton, Florida) was an American artist. Prior to working as an illustrator, Sarnoff studied at the Industrial School and the Grand Central School of Art in New York City. He was a member of the Society of Illustrators and exhibited widely including the National Academy of Design.

Sarnoff was a student of John Clymer and Andrew Wyeth. His portfolio includes extensive commercial work for weekly magazines and his art appeared in a variety of advertising campaigns including Karo Syrup, Dextrose, Lucky Strike, Coors, Camay, Sal Hepatica, Listerine, Vick's Vapo Rub, Meds, and Ipana. He also made an album cover for the American punk band Butthole Surfers for their third album. During his career Sarnoff provided illustrations for McCall's, American Weekly, Collier's, Woman's Home Companion, Redbook, The American Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Esquire, and Good Housekeeping.

His work was whimsical and engaging and relied heavily upon themes of Americana and slapstick humour. One of his paintings, "The Hustler", was one of the best-selling prints of the 1950s. He was also known to have painted portraits of famous individuals such as Bob Hope and John F. Kennedy. More on Arthur Sarnoff

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