National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; this acquisition was made possible by generous contributions from Jeane W. Austin and the James Smithson Society
The collection consists of six (6) color lithographic prints of Eugene Savage murals. The prints were distributed by the Matson Lines and each is printed with a title and description on the back. The prints include: A God Appears; Island Feast; Pomp and Circumstance; Hawaii's Decisive Hour; Aloha...Universal Word; and Festival of the Sea.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or National Anthropological Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Biographical Note:
Eugene Francis Savage (1883-1978) was an American painter and sculptor best known for his murals. In 1938, he was commissioned by Maston Lines, now the Matson Navigation Company, to paint Hawaiian-themed murals for their cruise ships. Matson Lines operated luxury cruises between California and Hawaii from the early 20th century through the 1970s. Savage completed the murals in 1940, but they were never installed because the ships had been converted to troopships for World War II. The mural designs were issued as lithographs and were later adapted to be used as covers for dinner menus on the cruise ships.
Local Numbers:
NAA MS 1998-02
Related Materials:
The Honolulu Museum of Art holds Savage's original murals.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research.
Access to the collection requires an appointment.
Rights:
Contact the repository for terms of use.
Genre/Form:
Works of art
Prints
Citation:
Eugene Savage prints of Hawaiian murals, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution