Floating Crane

Aylward, William James · 1919

Mixed media drawing on paper. The work depicts a ship with a crane, known as a "floating crane," at the Cassatt Bassens Docks in Bourdeaux, France. The deck of the floating crane is loaded with supplies and men. The crane is in the process of loading a piece of field artillery onto a large white boat. The boat appears to have green dazzle camouflage visible on the hull. There are other buildings and ships in the background. The sky is full of clouds with only partial spots of blue showing through. Signed at bottom right by the artist, "W.J. Aylward, A.E.F. '19."