Of the Water

People have paddled and sailed across the surface of Long Island’s coastal waters for thousands of years, seeking to harvest the bountiful sea life below. In the nineteenth century, these harbors were alive with the motion of countless baymen searching for oysters, clams, and fish to bring to market. Lange was captivated by their efforts, as he visually documented the movement of oysters from seabed to harvest to retail. However, in this age of industry and expansion heralded as progress, oystering was not fated to last. The unseen consequences of industrialization—pollution, environmental destruction, and ecological exploitation—permanently jeopardized the future of Long Island's shellfish population.

(left) Detail, Edward Lange (1846-1912), Charles Jones' Sloop, 1882, Watercolor and lead pencil on paper, 14.5 x 17 in. (unframed); 18 x 20.4375 in. (framed), Preservation Long Island purchase, 2010.4; (right) Detail, Edward Lange (1846-1912), Residence & Market of Nostrand & Remson, Jamaica, L.I., ca. 1887, India ink, gouache, and collaged paper on lined paper, 5.5 x 9.5 in. (unframed); 10 x 13.625 in. (framed). Preservation Long Island purchase, 1981.25

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