1881

Shad Fishing at Gloucester on the Delaware River

American, 1844 - 1916

This painting's composition was determined by the most distant view from the photographs Eakins had selected. Over the tracing of that image on the canvas, he projected a closer view to replace or add fishermen. He edited out the spectators in the original photograph, and projected his family slightly lower in their place. Between the two painted versions of this subject, Eakins shifted the emphasis to his family, who admire the dedication and skill of the fishermen.