The painting "Down East" is a large panoramic in which Robbins reveals a quintessential New England cove, with its docks, harbor, and local inhabitants of fisherman and loggers engaged in their work. The painting captures an idealized view of local life in the mid 20th century, similar to the subject matter of the great American murals of the 1930s and 1940s. This oil painting from 1967 was recently sold at a Connecticut art gallery and is one of the larger paintings Robbins produced – measuring a full 48 inches wide. It bears a striking resemblance to another of Robbins' oils entitled Anchor, which was also produced in 1967 – though Down East displays more content in its composition thanks to its much larger size. Robbins often developed several iterations of a subject – each with its own unique alterations.
This specific scene is undoubtedly a location in Maine, as evidenced by the sign hanging on the shack at left, which reads, "Down East Pulp Lumber Co." The term "Down East" often refers to a particular coastal region of Maine, or more generally, to the eastern portion of the state – a location where Robbins exhibited his work during his career beginning in the 1930s. Signed and dated lower left. Oil on board. 16 in. x 48 in. (Photo credit:
PaintingGallery.com, New Milford, CT.)
