Hello Merray.... Attached is your original image lightened, sharpened and focussed somewhat. It shows a different perspective on the (very probable signature) on the lower right, possible initials in the lower center, and a probable date all in the same handwriting.The haze on the image actually has some finger-formed letters but I didn´t try to interprete them. The lightened image shows a lot of activity from left edge to the right edge of the painting. Boats everywhere engaged in a
rescue/salvage scene. Beginning at the center a small boat poised...It appears to hold the letters J and F, possibly J, H, and F in some order. At the right are the letters that the forum is already dissecting, probably the last name. Some letters morph, but sometimes I see F O R E S T, sometimes not. (What is interesting is the dog beneath the letters looking at a rescue scene just to his front left where it appears that a crouched figure is poised to pull a figure, out of arm´s reach, from the water. Behind the dog and cut off below the shoulder blades are two or three figures whose garb (if not rain gear and considering the boats) may hint at the locality depicted by the painting.) The nose of the dog, left ear, the back, and tail at the horizontal, can be seen in your
post of the closeup of the signature.
The date, fairly centered but obscured by darker strokes on the rock face upper right,also morphs, most times it appears 1915 to me. Boats at the right poised to....rescue?....salvage?... A busy foreground everywhere. Debris dancing in the water.... A true impression of a moment in time with everything about to change.....
There is another place where a date maybe... to the left of the right side signature but before the center. The head of the dog below the writing really caught my attention .....but that´s another thread.......... I hope this helps... Frank
