Whalers Cove, also known as “Whaler’s Cove”, is a small, reefed lagoon in Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, considered the “crown jewel” of California’s 280 state parks. It was home to one of the Carmel Whaling Company’s whaling stations from 1862 to 1879, when commercial whale fat, used for lighting, was replaced by kerosene. The cove and its surroundings are known for a rich marine habitat and unique, endemic fauna, and are protected by the U.S. government.
Gordon Mortensen portrays the cove on a bright day, likely in spring when the wildflowers are in bloom. Evident in the calm water is the aquatic plantlife that emerges at low tide around the edges of the cove.
Mortensen commented on the process he uses: "Only one woodblock is used. On it an image is drawn in India ink. Before the first color is printed, any areas that are to remain unprinted (white or the color of the paper) are cut away from the surface of the block. Then an oil base ink is used to print the first color on all of the sheets of paper that are to be used for the edition and proofs.
After the first printing the block is again cut, removing any surface of the block that is to remain the first color in the finished print. After each subsequent color is printed, the block is cut, the process continues until the print is finished and most of the surface of the block is cut away."