Striped Bass Print

North Atlantic Striped Bass is a depiction of a mature striped bass (Marone saxatilis) with close taxonomical detail, made from the original pen and ink illustration by Kenneth T. Murphy in 2006. The original illustration currently resides at Street & Company, a top-rated restaurant in Portland, Maine, and includes custom hand-made and hand-set typography of the title and specimen details. Each of the scales were individually drawn, with over 6,000 scales representing the accurate taxonomy of the visible side of the Striped Bass.

Designed in 2017, this North Atlantic Striped Bass print is a salute to the striped bass, commonly called a ‘striper’ – a unique species that has no direct taxonomic relatives, and is an icon to salt-water sport and casual fishermen of the North Atlantic Sea, from Labrador to Cape Hatteras. The inherent power and striking beauty of the lines of the fish, its elusive nature and potential massive size makes it a highly sought-after prize. Though oily, this fleshy fish is edible and considered a delicacy in many regions.

The accompanying type in the print is an homage to the classic forms of vintage typography and letterforms that were seen throughout the Northeast from the 18th century through the early-mid 20th century on storefronts, ship bows and transoms, shipping crates, can and jar labels, flags and banners, and pretty much anything that was made to visually inform – all painted or etched by hand.