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Interior of a Cottage, Monhegan Island

1907
Rockwell Kent (American, 1882–1971)

Kent first traveled to Monhegan Island, Maine, in 1905 to paint its dramatic headlands and harborside village. Impressed by the scenery and the self-sufficient spirit of the island’s inhabitants, he returned the following year, built a house, and became a part-time resident.

This early watercolor, a self-portrait of Kent in his Monhegan cottage with sketchpad in hand, is a rare interior scene by an artist who would become best known for his landscapes. The artist’s training as both an architectural draftsman and a painter are evident here in the clear definition of the domestic space and his sparing use of color to enliven the scene.


Object Details

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