Jonas Lie was born in Moss, Norway in 1880. After the death of his father in 1892 Jonas, his mother, and sisters moved to New York. After a year in the city, they moved to Plainfield, New Jersey where Jonas began working in a textile factory designing fabrics to help support the family. While working at the factory, he took night classes at the National Academy of Design honing his painting skills. He later became acquainted with Franklin D. Roosevelt who took great interest in collecting Lie’s work.

Port Jefferson Harbor, c. 1910-15, illustrates a beautifully rendered harbor scene. Boats, with their sails raised, are reflected in the rippling water. The subdued color palette and subject matter were influenced by Lie’s Norwegian roots.