Saturday Night

Bott’s print employs a detailed, black-and-white illustrative style in its portrayal of a middle-aged woman bathing her dog in a large tub. Shades of gray and black linework are used to give dimension and definition to the objects and figures in the piece, and the various textures of the water on the floor and in the tub, the fluffy bathroom towels, and the tile floor add a significant amount of life and movement to the small space depicted in the print. The piece’s title, Saturday Night, amusingly suggests that this is about as exciting as life gets for its middle-aged female subject (and her canine companion); whether this is a positive or negative thing depends on the individual viewer's perspective. Either way, the warmth exuded by the image's detail also inspires comfort and fondness in the viewer, with the domestic familiarity displayed in the print fostering amiable interest rather than dull banality. Though it’s certainly a work of social realism, the peaceful caregiving on display in the image offers viewers a romantic view of the day-to-day activities of the average American household.

About the Artist

Hugh Pearce Botts, born in 1903 in Cranford, NJ, grew to become an artist skilled in a variety of mediums, including etching, wood engraving, lithography, and drypoint. Though he attended Rutgers University, he did not stay to complete his program, choosing instead to relocate to New York City to study at the Arts Students League. Botts received additional creative training at the National Academy of Design School from 1924 to 1928 and New York’s Beaux Arts Institute of Design. In 1928, Botts was awarded a residency at the Yaddo artists colony, Saratoga Springs. Afterwards, he returned to New York City to work out of a private studio, where he also taught art classes to students and penned articles for well-known publications such as Popular Mechanics. He was employed by the WPA from 1935 to 1943, during which time he produced a multitude of prints and paintings. Botts’ work was exhibited in the Smithsonian Institution in the Division of Graphic Arts of the U.S. National Museums, with 45 of his prints entering the Library of Congress from the exhibit. Botts passed away at age 64 in the care of a nursing home in New Jersey in 1964. In memory of his creative achievements, the Salmagundi Club in New York--in which Botts was a member--offers a yearly prize named for the artist. 94 works and sketches at Memorial Art Gallery. 18 works at Newark Museum of Art. 3 works at Syracuse University Art Museum. 2 works at Smithsonian American Art Museum. 8 images at FAP.

Botts, Hugh Pearce (1903 - 1964)

Casey, Meaghan (description and biography)

Helquist, Morgan (photography)

New Deal Museum, Mount Morris NY

Object #FA 1133

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Aquatint etching on paper

Image: 9 1/4 x 12 1/2 in.
Framed: 15 x 18 in.