Artwork of the Week: July 13
In this scene, self-trained artist Jose Calderon (1901-1978) shows the harbor of Sausalito, California at dusk rather than its typical depictions of sunny skies and deep blue water. Hearkening back to Impressionist styles, Calderon anchors the boats in a setting of one specific afternoon as the clouds encroach upon the horizon, yet the thick brushstrokes and generous application of paint create only suggestions of hulls and masts. The comparative detail and color of the shack at right prompts viewers to study the canvas in search of the boats and interact with the scene as if they too were standing on the dock.
While incarcerated in California’s San Quentin Prison during the 1950s and 60s, Jose Calderon discovered a talent for creating art, making drawings of prison scenes that were prized in annual inmate art auctions and shows. Upon his release, he further developed this skill, transforming rough sketches into large paintings on canvas and creating a career as an artist. Landscapes like this harbor scene stand out among the bright, detailed images of people in the American Southwest that are the subject of most of his later compositions.
Wells, Nathaniel, and Jeffrey Moresburg. Telephone Interview, April 6, 2026.
Worthpoint. “Award Winning Artist Joseph Calderon San Quentin Drawing Mail Call ..... Ds17 | #4550093769.” Accessed April 22, 2026. https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/award-winning-artist-joseph-calderon-4550093769.
