Hawaiian Fisherman, John Hano-Hano Pa

Hawaiian Fisherman, John Hano-Hano Pa, created in 1916, elevates its subject from an anonymous type to a named individual. The inclusion of the fisherman's full name transforms the print from a genre scene into something approaching a portrait, acknowledging the specific human being who stood before the artist rather than treating him as a representative specimen of island life.

This oban woodblock print depicts John Hano-Hano Pa in the context of his working environment, the Hawaiian coastal waters where he practiced his livelihood. Bartlett's decision to identify his subject by name was unusual in the woodblock print tradition, where figures typically served as anonymous elements within scenic compositions. The choice reflects Bartlett's long residence in Hawaii, where he had the opportunity to develop relationships with local people rather than merely passing through as a traveling artist collecting picturesque impressions.