Description

This vibrant watercolor transports us back to the bustling docks of downtown New York City, with Dad standing on the pier at the South Street Seaport, his easel poised to capture the scene. A few weathered fishing boats are moored nearby, their masts reaching toward the iconic city skyline that serves as a majestic backdrop.

For years, I marveled at how Dad managed to unearth these hidden artistic gems scattered throughout the city's labyrinth of streets and alleyways. Did he simply wander aimlessly until inspiration struck? That was partly the case, but it wasn't until after his passing, while sifting through his treasured belongings, that I uncovered the secret to his urban explorations.

Tucked away in an unassuming Goya Rice bag, secured with a humble rubber band, lay a trove of maps - subway guides, atlases, torn pages from books - almost every one meticulously marked with the locations that had captured Dad's artistic eye. It was as if he had been a modern-day explorer, charting his course through the concrete jungle in search of visual treasures.

The revelation filled me with a profound sense of awe and admiration. Here was a man who, just nine years after our family's harrowing escape from Communist Hungary in 1956, had embraced his newfound home with the curiosity and tenacity of an intrepid adventurer. Armed with his maps and an insatiable hunger for beauty, Dad had set out to document the vibrant tapestry of New York City, one brushstroke at a time.

As I study this South Street Seaport painting, I'm reminded not only of Dad's remarkable talent but also of the unstoppable spirit that drove him to seek out and immortalize the city's most captivating sights. Each stroke, each carefully rendered detail, is a testament to his unwavering passion for art and his determination to forge a new life in a land once foreign, now forever etched into the fabric of his masterpieces and his soul.

On this day in 1965, Dad was out there. He had a plan and found City Fishers. ❤️

Through My Father's Eyes