It is art. It is history. Is it art history? (Ay, there's the rub.)

 

Murals on the High Seas takes a look at the artworks created for American passenger ships* built between 1927 and 1962.

 

These works of art, in hindsight, are not usually treated as such. There are exceptions, but when put with an artist's body of work, these commissions tend to stick out like the proverbial sore thumb. The above slideshow is a sampling of what you'll find inside.

 

This site will remain a work in progress for some time to come. (Hence the What's New? tab.) New information pops up in the oddest of places, and there are always better images to be had. If you, or someone you know, was on these ships and have photos with artwork in the frame, please share!

 

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*To be included, these ships had to weigh in at at least 10,000 gross tons, carrying at least 100 passengers.

A few exceptions have been made, and they will be noted within.