Rosenhaft (1925-2015) a contemporary realist that was most closely associated with Salmagundi Club in New York City. An art club where he would meet with other artists, exchanged ideas and exhibit his paintings. H e explored a variety of themes ranging from portraits, landscapes, seascapes, interiors and figures. Rosenhaft was born in Brooklyn, NY, and attended the Art Students League, Tyler School of Fine Art, and the Brooklyn Museum School of Art. He was the pupil of the famous European master, Max Beckman, as well as the American maestro Jon Corbino. He was clearly influenced by Beckman in the case of this painting. Like Beckman, he used dark outlines that contour around his subjects, and created shadows that are inky, sooty. "Tugboats" was a scene that Rosenhaft would have seen in his native Manhattan, Brooklyn neighborhoods. Tugboats maneuver barges and ships up and down the East River guiding the large vessels around the Queensboro and Brooklyn Bridge