Downes Curtis

1935

black-and-white lithograph

11 ⅝” x 14 ¾”

Shown here is a skillful and devoted sailmaker named Downes Curtis. Downes worked with his brother Albert in a loft on Tilghman Street in Oxford, Maryland. The loft in which he worked still stands tall to this day! As you can tell from his facial expression, Downes Curtis is focused and adept at his specialized craft. Sailing is a very popular sport on the Tred Avon River, a river off of the Chesapeake. Before motorized watercraft, wind-powered sailing was the main means of water transportation. Today it is still popular as a sport and hobby. Some sailboats even have motors on them to use if the wind is weak. Artisans are skilled workers who use their hands in their craft. Downes Curtis is a fine example of an artisan who was valued, respected and essential to the history of the Eastern Shore.