Blanch first came to Woodstock in 1919 to study at the Art Students League Summer School and remained there until his death in 1968. His early works from the 1920's exhibited stylistic similarities to those of his teachers Robert Henri and John Sloan through the use of somber tones and similar composition. By the 1930's, Blanch's style had changed, represented in a brighter palette and a more light-hearted tone. This change was most likely influenced by his romantic involvement with Doris Lee. Similar to Lee, Blanch's work throughout the 1930's and 40's took on a decorative and more humorous expression as seen in the present work The White Whale.