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The Trailing Fog
by Frank Wilcox
About the Artwork
The progressive lightening of shades and rippling reflections of the figures in this image demonstrate Frank Wilcox’s mastery of watercolor. Spots of exposed paper along the lefthand side appear to mimic sea spray while a blur of wash on the right suggests a thickening bank of fog. Likely inspired by his trips to Canada and Maine, this scene may depict kelp gatherers. While elsewhere in the world seaweed was collected in bulk for its chemical properties, Maine kelp gatherers used it as fertilizer.
Inscriptions
Signed, in graphite, at bottom left: WILCOX
Provenance
1929: Studio of the artist, Cleveland, OH, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art 1929-: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
Exhibition history
The May Show: 11th Annual Exhibition of Works by Cleveland Artists and Craftsmen. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (April 23-June 2, 1929). Retrospective Twenty-fifth Anniversary May Show. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (January 13-February 14, 1943). Work of Cleveland Artists for the 41st Annual Meeting of the College Art Association. The Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (January 29-31, 1953). Cleveland Traditions: Enamels and Watercolors from the Cleveland Museum of Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 30-October 16, 1983).
Quick Overview
- Artist
- Frank Wilcox (American, 1887–1964)
- Date
- c. 1928
- Medium
- watercolor
- Dimensions
- Paper: 36.2 x 49.5 cm (14 1/4 x 19 1/2 in.)
- Type
- Drawing
- Classification
- Drawing
- Department
- Drawings
- Credit line
- Hinman B. Hurlbut Collection
- Accession no.
- 1929.1978
More by Frank Wilcox in museum collections
Data retrieved from the Cleveland Museum of Art on October 8, 2026. The museum may have updated its record since.
Open-access museum record · AT-00011100
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