Final answer:
Scrimshaw is a maritime art form that began primarily with 19th-century sailors who carved and engraved on whale bones during long voyages. It features scenes and symbols related to sea life and whaling, influenced by a variety of artistic traditions, including European prints that sailors had access to.
Step-by-step explanation:
Scrimshaw art refers to the handiwork of whalers and sailors, primarily of the 19th century, who engraved and carved on the byproducts of whales, such as bones and teeth, typically a whale's tooth or jawbone. It originated at sea and was practised by men who had long periods of idle time during their voyages.
Scrimshaw pieces often featured ship scenes, whaling scenes, or maritime symbols, but artists also drew upon a wealth of artistic influences. Prints and reproductions from European artists that made their way to America, like those of Anthony van Dyck, could have influenced their techniques, suggesting these sailors were not isolated from greater artistic traditions. The materials they used were readily available from their environment, with a favored use of ivory from the walrus, as the Aleut people of the Alaskan region who worked with ivory carvings.
The motifs on scrimshaw reflected the natural world around the sailors, depicting whales, eagles, and other sea creatures, as well as everyday life at sea and mythical figures. Scrimshaw art is a manifestation of the intersection between practical craftsmanship and artistic expression of seafarers from a bygone era, showing great attention to detail and reflecting a unique aspect of maritime history.