Creation Date

Sculpture creation date: 1939

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Description

Black and white photograph of a bronze statue of a kneeling lobsterman facing forward as he works with a lobster on the base, with the title plaque visible on the pedestal. The photograph shows a front view of the bronze sculpture titled "The Maine Lobsterman," depicting a man kneeling on one knee with the other leg bent, leaning forward as he grips a lobster that lies on the rectangular base. The statue is set in a paved plaza with a tree, a brick building, and a passerby in the background. The figure wears a collared shirt with rolled-up sleeves, work pants, and tall boots, and his head is bowed in concentration as his hands hold the lobster. The metal plaque on the concrete pedestal reads: "THE MAINE LOBSTERMAN / BY VICTOR KAHILL / FOR THE WORLD'S FAIR A.D. 1939 / PLACED IN THIS PUBLIC SQUARE BY / THE PORTLAND CITY COUNCIL A.D. 1977." This sculpture was originally commissioned for the 1939 World's Fair as a plaster statue, later displayed in Portland City Hall for 16 years, and eventually cast in bronze and placed in Congress Square, Portland, Maine. Though considered a symbol of the Maine lobster industry, the pose was the artist's creation and does not represent the way lobstermen actually worked pegging lobsters before the adoption of rubber and silicone bands. 1994. Unidentified, photographer. (See p17021-p17042)(NA4800.)

Save Outdoor Sculpture! (SOS!) (1990-1995) was a nationwide survey that ran from 1990-1995 documenting America’s outdoor sculpture. Established in 1990, SOS! helped educate local communities about America’s endangered sculptural heritage. The Maine Arts Commission was one of 106 organizations to participate in this survey.

Topic

Sculpture

Collection

MF161

Series Number

NA4800

Identifier

p17025

Rights and Access Note

This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for non-commercial uses. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). For more information, contact Special Collections.

Existence and Location of Originals

Located at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress: AFC 2012/047 https://lccn.loc.gov/2013655211.

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Keywords

Save Outdoor Sculpture

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Rights Statement

In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted