Bark "Metis" Making Harbor

John Taylor Arms

John Taylor Arms embarked on a series of color etchings dedicated to the ships throughout time and the world, though he only completed seven images in total. Among these was a depiction of the “Metis”, a 620 ton bark (or barque) vessel built in 1868 by C.H. Currier and Co. in Newburyport, MA. Plate #6 in the series, it was one of the ships that was closer to home for the American printmaker of the Northeast, whose interest in ships included Chinese junks, Norse Viking ships, and more. The “Metis” was employed for various ventures throughout the East Coast before receiving irreparable damage from a barge in 1872.

Arms was less known for his color work and appears to have rarely pursued it in his etchings, favoring the contrast of black and white. However, as is evident in this work, he was equally adept at the subtleties found in hues as he was in tonality. The vessel is depicted heading into port at sunset, a scattering of stars visible in the upper left of the image as the sun touches the low hills.