Portuguese Boats

Portuguese Boats — Orville Houghton Peets. c. 1926.

Medium: woodcut. Dimensions: Plate: 10.2 x 12.2 cm (4 x 4 13/16 in.).

Collection record: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland. Museum connection according to this source; current display unverified.

Starting in 1920, Peets was commissioned by the Hispanic Society of America to travel to Portugal and create art reflecting his experience. The artist was particularly interested in traditional shipbuilding methods that had been preserved by local fishing communities. In this image, the vessel on the left resembles a Moliceiro boat from the Aveiro region, which is handcrafted by one builder. Unfortunately, the American public was not receptive to the artist’s prints of Portuguese culture because there was a greater demand for nationalistic themes.

Source: official collection record. Metadata selected and normalized by Artline from the source export, accessed 10 September 2026; no museum endorsement. Reproduction rights are separate.