OCT. 25 - 28 PART 2: MORE THOUGHTS

ROCKWELL KENT WILDERNESS CENTENNIAL JOURNAL

100 YEARS LATER

by Doug Capra © 2018-19

Part 2 – More Thoughts

Oct. 25-28, 2019

ABOVE – The Resurrect Art Coffee House and Art Gallery, where I do much of my writing. Built in 1917 as a Methodist Church, it stood at this spot when Rockwell Kent was in Seward. Mount Marathon is in the background. The Methodists sold it to the Lutherans about 1946. For 22 year’s now it has been a coffee house and art gallery. Capra photo taken on Oct. 25, 2019.

BELOW – Resurrection Bay at about 1:30 on Oct. 25, 2019. Fox Island is just to the right of the tree. Days like this were few during late August, September and October 1918 when Kent was on Fox Island. As Lars Olson wrote in his diary, It rained like Hell.  Capra Photo

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These are some of my thoughts as I try to process my research into a portrait of the man who experienced both the quiet and unquiet adventure on Fox Island in Resurrection Bay, Alaska during 1918-1919. Here I’m focusing on the unquiet adventure – the emotional baggage Rockwell Kent brings with him to Alaska. Just as important is the inspirational and moving quiet adventure described in his illustrated journal which later became Wilderness: A Journal of Quiet Adventure in Alaska (1920). We must never lose sight of the power, energy, and stimulation the Alaska wilderness gifted to Kent.

n  Kent had no idea this Alaska trip would work out and that he would finally gain recognition and financial success – and so quickly. He feels his early departure as a failure because he has the money to stay through the summer of 1919. His wife, Kathleen, has acquired a $2000 patronage. He’s homesick, jealous and fearful of Kathleen’s unfaithfulness. In a sense, the wilderness defeats him. The extreme isolation he experiences on Fox Island is new to him. He likes to be in control, and here the north wind, the weather and the sea is in charge. Due to contract disputes between the federal government and the steamship companies, the mail takes more than a month to go back and forth between Alaska and New York. Kent is used to a rapid correspondence between him and Kathleen when they’re separated.

n  He’s completed many pen and inks – probably because it was easier to work in black and white during the dark winter days. He has started but not finished numerous paintings. He completes them later in Vermont. He is proud and delighted with his work. He also has doubts whether his genius will be recognized by the New York art critics and the buying public.

ABOVE – Downtown Seward, look south toward Resurrection Bay. Lowell Point is visible in the distance. Capra photo taken on Oct. 25, 2019.

n  His Newfoundland trip three years earlier is still fresh in his mind – not only the poor reviews of his paintings, but also his inglorious ejection from that country for his pro-German sympathies. He didn’t help the matter by egging on the authorities. He must try to keep his head down in Seward and watch his mouth. “Slackers,” those who avoid the draft – which by 1918 includes men Kent’s age – are not tolerated. And anyone even criticizing the draft or America’s entry into the Great War is suspect. He could be arrested – and then, what would happen to Rockie? He registers for the draft in town, despite his despising this new selective service.

n  The darkness and isolation during the Alaska winter brings out Kent’s demons. Kathleen’s letters don’t help. She finds it easier to stand up to his infidelities writing from thousands of miles away. She’s never forgotten his first affair with Jennie – only months after their marriage on New Year’s Eve 1908. Jennie bore his child, Karl, who only lived a few months. Then came the court case during 1915-16 over the financial trusts Rockwell set up for Jennie and the child. That has exhausted their savings. Now Rockwell finds a new mistress, Hildegarde Hirsch, a young Ziegfeld Follies dancer. Kathleen is fed up. She won’t tolerate her husband’s philandering.

ABOVE – From left, Jane (Jennie) Bell Sterling; Kathleen Whiting Kent (Photos from Archives of American Art; Hildegarde Hirsch (1920 passport photo)

n      Kathleen is on Monhegan Island when Kent and Rockie leave for Alaska in late July 1918. In September while on Fox Island he receives letters from her, taunting him with stories of dances she attends and the men who are courting her. Kent is outraged, jealous, and despondent. He’s ready to return home.

n  Late into the evening and early morning hours Rockwell obsesses over Kathleen’s letters and writes long rants back to her. He’s desperate, despondent, and raging. Her letters aren’t long enough nor sufficiently loving and admiring. He demands she spend more time reading his lengthy letters and addressing each question he raises. He returns to her those letters about her male admirers. He doesn’t want them in the cabin where he will be tempted to read them over and over.

n  Kathleen moves to New York City. She’s busy with her three young daughters – little Kathleen, Clara and Hildegarde (Kathleen later names her Barbara) -- but occasionally Kent’s mother and her family take care of the older two for a time. Her friends look out for her and take her out to dinner, to concerts and shows. She writes of this to Rockwell in Alaska and that makes him even more angry and jealous. She should be spending more time writing longer letters to him and mothering their children. He enlists his friend George Chappell to counsel Kathleen.

n  Chappell is a partner in the architectural firm, Ewing and Chappell and an old family friend. Kent can always find work there when he needs money. Chappell knows Kent and Kathleen intimately. His letter from January 29, 1919 to Kent is most revealing. George has agreed to look after Kent’s family if something happens to him in Alaska, and he takes that responsibility seriously. He visits Kathleen often, plays with and reads to the children. He and Kathleen become close friends. Kent uses George through letters to get Kathleen to better understand his needs and expectations of her. It isn’t working. George seems to side more with Kathleen. Chappell tries tactfully to warn Kent how his idealistic expectations of Kathleen are ruining his marriage and perhaps his career. One must be delicate, sensitive, diplomatic with Kent if one wants to remain his friend. Chappell is one of the few people who can approach Kent with authority – speak truth to ego. As Kent’s friend Carl Zigrosser says of the artists, Kent could and would not tolerate serious criticism that undercut his confidence. Their relationship -- George and Kathleen -- begins to irritate Kent, though he doesn’t suspect anything romantic. Kent senses George siding with Kathleen against him, and questions their friendship. He is annoyed that Kathleen says George’s influence is keeping her faithful to her husband. If it wasn’t for him, Kathleen tells him, she might seek the affection of other men. Kent is angry that she isn’t faithful to him for his sake alone.

n  Both Carl Zigrosser and George Chappell along with Juliana Force, who is working for Gertrude Whitney, are working to incorporate Kent at $2000 a share. The success of that venture may depend upon how his Alaska art is received. Force becomes one of Kent’s major investors.

ABOVE – Rockwell Kent, left, and Carl Zigrosser, many years after Fox Island.

BELOW – George Chappell.

n  Kathleen is probably tired of moving from place to place over the years. Rockwell could rarely afford to have his family with him in New York – too expensive. They were always packing up and unpacking. The Newfoundland trip back in 1915 was supposed to be a long term stay for them. They sold almost everything they owned.  On Fox Island – during those late night, early morning hours – the Hour of the Wolf -- Kent finally realizes how inconsiderate he has been to his wife. He decides to end his affair with Hildegarde – on his own accord, he tells Kathleen – but it seems quite clear that she has given him an ultimatum. He has written her two loving letters – honest and revealing -- and sends them to Chappell and Carl Zigrosser. They’re to be deliver to Kathleen with flowers on New Year’s Eve 1918, their tenth anniversary. He is now a new man. He has changed. From now on he will be faithful to Kathleen - as long as she understands and accepts her role within the marriage.

n  As 1919 emerges, Kent waits in desperation for Kathleen’s response to his anniversary letters. The old fox farmer, Lars Olson leaves the island on Jan. 2, 1919 to pick up the mail in Seward. He’s supposed to return in a few days. He doesn’t get back until February 11. The two island dwellers have no idea what happened to him. He could be dead for all they know. Rockwell diverts all his anxiety and negative energy into his art. He’s good at compartmentalizing his life. He tries to force himself to keep Kathleen and his marriage out of his thoughts. While he’s busy during the day it works. Fortunately, by the end of January he’s gaining almost five minutes of light each day. It’s cold, and that fierce north wind blows, but like most Alaskans, Kent senses the emerging sunlight as a medicine.

ABOVE – Mount Alice, across from Seward on the Resurrection Peninsula. Capra photo taken on Oct. 25, 2019. 

n  Olson returns forty days later with the mail. Kent is delighted. Kathleen has accepted the new man Kent says he is – with reservations. Although Kent has stopped writing to Hildegarde and told her their relationship is over – the distrust still lingers. Kathleen learns from friends things about Hildegarde and Kent – all the money her husband has spent on this woman. Kent later denies it and offers his version of the events. What is the truth? We may never know. We have Kent’s letters to Hildegarde but not hers to Kent. In the late February and March letters, Kathleen complains about not being able to trust some of her friends. They aren’t telling her the truth.

n  Through February and March, Rockwell and Kathleen try to really communicate to save their marriage. The mails are still slow making even this effort difficult. Rockwell has promised to leave New York City with his family, away from the sensual temptations. He and his wife will travel New England upon his return and find a quiet, rural setting – perhaps an old farmhouse he can restore – and settle there. Finally, Kathleen will have a home, a real stable place to raise the children. Kent begs her to build a wall of thorns around their new abode to keep him from straying. He says he’ll help her build it. Kathleen is elated with their new beginning. Upon his return they settle near Arlington, Vermont at an old farm he calls “Egypt.”

n  Kent is not only fearful his Alaskan art with flop with the critics and public as did his Newfoundland work – he’s also concerned he’ll lose his wife and family as well. He must change. He must begin his life anew. He is sincere – as we all are when we make a New Year’s resolution with determination. Is he being unrealistic? Perhaps. He’s a romantic idealist and he’s envisioned the perfect place for his new retreat from the world – his New England Fox Island.

NEXT ENTRY

ONWARD TO TIERRA DEL FUEGO, EUROPE,

GREENLAND, AND THROUGH THE 1920’S