John Taylor Arms Wwii Navy Series Etching Destroyers in Wet Basin Federal Shipbuilding South Kearny

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Original signed etching by John Taylor Arms (American, 1887 to 1953), titled "Destroyers in Wet Basin at Federal Shipbuilding and … Read more Original signed etching by John Taylor Arms (American, 1887 to 1953), titled "Destroyers in Wet Basin at Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, South Kearny, New Jersey (U.S.S. Radford, U.S.S. Quick, U.S.S. Mervine)," Fletcher catalogue raisonné #377, etched 1942. The first and most atmospheric plate of Arms's celebrated four part WWII Navy Series, commissioned by the artist at his own expense and donated to the US Navy, which sold the editions on naval bases during and after the war to support Navy welfare funds. The print depicts three Fletcher class destroyers, the USS Radford (DD 446), USS Quick (DD 490), and USS Mervine (DD 489), resting on the glassy mirror surface of a wet basin on the Hackensack River at Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Kearny, New Jersey. Twin gantry cranes flank the basin. The sky carries Arms's signature soft banner clouds above the hard geometric rigor of cranes, masts, and steel superstructure. Reflections fall full mirror into the still water. Rendered in Arms's hallmark hyper precise line work, drawn with sewing needles under a magnifying glass. Pencil signed and titled by the artist in the lower margins. Inscription consistent with a personal presentation impression. See less