Storm Over Provincetown

This lithograph features a view of two small Provincetown homes, seemingly situated in a village, with a deep storm brewing overhead. Though not overtly noticeable, there is a man traipsing between the shacks on what appears to be a first road. This dirt road is one of the strongest lines in the lithograph, bending into the scene and drawing the viewer in. There is a strong contrast in the values of this piece: the faces of the homes are in full light, but their sides are cast into nearly full shadow. The clouds overhead are also very dark, which makes the scene even more ominous. The shapes in this piece are very clear in the form of the houses, but become more nondescript and chaotic in the clouds and ground. The piece feels slightly top-heavy in terms of balance, though even laterally. Noticing the small details in this piece creates a fuller sense of its story than what is available at first glance. The trees sway slightly, and the leaves are pulled horizontally, which implies high winds, and the juxtaposition of the small bolt of lightning next to the powerlines creates a subliminal sense of danger. There is also an emptiness beyond the lonesome man, which prompts the viewer to consider how everyone in this town, whom we cannot see, is faring in this storm.

Gregory, John Worthington (1903 - 1992)

Hejaily, Monica (description)

Helquist, Morgan (photography)

New Deal Museum, Mount Morris NY

Object #FA 1271

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Lithograph on paper

Image: 11 3/4 x 9 1/2 in.
Framed: 21 x 17 in.