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A painting by Stevan Dohanos graced the cover of the September 22, 1945, edition of The Saturday Evening Post, capturing the serene beauty of West Quoddy Head Lighthouse in Maine. This painting, however, was more than just a simple depiction of a lighthouse; it was a blend of reality and artistic imagination—a tale of two lighthouses from two different states that somehow merged into one amazing image.
Stevan Dohanos, a renowned photographer and artist of the 1940s, traveled to West Quoddy Head Lighthouse, the easternmost lighthouse on the mainland of the United States. During his visit, he meticulously photographed and sketched the lighthouse, absorbing the atmosphere and the details of the structure. The lighthouse was under the care of Howard “Bob” Gray, a dedicated keeper who maintained the lighthouse.
Back in his studio, Dohanos began work on the painting. Despite his sketches and photographs, he found it challenging to capture the essence of the lighthouse. Inspiration eluded him, and the canvas remained incomplete. In search of a fresh perspective, Dohanos decided to visit another lighthouse, this time at Sankaty Head on Nantucket, Massachusetts.
Sankaty Head Lighthouse, though much different from West Quoddy, had its own unique charm. As Dohanos observed the scene, he noticed something that struck a chord: the lighthouse keeper there was trimming the grass around the base of the tower. This simple, almost mundane act of domesticity added a human touch to the stark, solitary lighthouse, making it feel more connected to the lives of the people who tended it.
Inspired by this moment, Dohanos returned to his studio. Although the scene he had witnessed was at Sankaty Head, he decided to incorporate it into his painting of West Quoddy Head. In his mind, the two lighthouses, despite their differences, shared a common spirit—a blend of strength and simplicity, standing tall against the elements, yet grounded in the everyday tasks of those who cared for them.
The final painting featured Howard “Bob” Gray, the West Quoddy lighthouse keeper, on his knees, trimming the grass around the lighthouse—a scene that never actually occurred at West Quoddy Head, but one that Dohanos had envisioned.
Fast forward to 2024: I was amazed to find in my mailbox today that this iconic cover had been recently recreated on the September/October 2024 issue of The Saturday Evening Post. What a pleasant surprise!
This story appeared in the
Nov/Dec 2024 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.
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