Salonika waterfront drawing, November 1915

[CCD12]

John T. McCutcheon, the war correspondent/cartoonist for the Chicago Tribune, arrived in Salonika around October 31, 1915. This is his drawing of the waterfront, published in a story datelined November 4, 1915. 

[Gardenerbill]

What an excellent cartoon, it really captures the hustle and bustle of the harbour, he was obviously a competent artist, he shows good understanding of perspective and proportion, thanks for posting.

[pete-c]

I second Mark's comment; it was indeed a truly cosmopolitan town.  Given the dates, I wonder if it might be possible to identify the larger vessels? 

[JohnC]

Very good indeed. It reminds me more than a little of Helen Mckie's pair of paintings of Waterloo Station in war and peace. They were of a later war, but substitute the ships and quay for trains and platform and the similarity is quite striking. She was also a widely published war artist of 14-18. (Pictures not posted here to stay within Forum rules, just google for Helen Mckie Waterloo.)

[CCD12]

McCutcheon found accommodations with several other reporters in what had been the former dining room of the Olympos Palace Hotel. Its large windows looked directly onto the waterfront. I wonder if this view is from those windows.

[pete-c]

11 hours ago, CCD12 said:

McCutcheon found accommodations with several other reporters in what had been the former dining room of the Olympos Palace Hotel. Its large windows looked directly onto the waterfront. I wonder if this view is from those windows.

 

 

Or from a balcony.  The two 'structures' in the drawing, on the harbour-side, match those in the accompanying photo.  Photo via ebay.

 

Edited 2 March , 2020 by pete-c