* M O T I F * NO. 1 *
Rockport, Massachusetts
The little fishing harbor at Rockport lazes in late-spring sunshine, its fishing shanties freshly painted for the tourist season to come. Situated at the very tip of Cape Ann, a rocky peninisula some 30 miles north of Boston, Rockport got its name as a shipment port for blocks of the local granite, quarried nearby and used to build the breakwater of the inner harbor as seen here. Rockport's particular claim to fame arose from the artist's colony which formed in summertime on nearby Bearskin Neck. At the end of the B&M Rockport Line from Boston, Rockport is an easy day-trip from Boston and offers a number of pleasures: seaside walks, views of spectacular surf and screaming gulls, souvenirs and a range of dining options. It is a handsome town with authentic New England atmosphere, almost like the coast of Maine but considerably closer to the metropolis. Commercialism and overcrowding have had their effect, but have been able to expunge the indelible Yankee character of the place. A few score lobstermen and fishermen still scrape out a living from the sea.
The red shanty at center here, known as "Motif #1," has been a favorite subject of Rockport artists and tourists for generations. Completely rebuilt after being smashed to kindling in the Hurricane of '78, the shack is decorated with colorful floats for lobster traps. Altogether, this scene breathes the aura invoked by the green boat at right: "Spirit of Peace."