Sailing in American Art

[rbgarr]

http://www.nshof.org/index.php?optio...d=26&Itemid=88

[Michael D. Storey]

I feel that Homer revealed himself as The great American Impressionist through his water paintings.
Wonderful collection at the National. They did a show of Fitz Hugh Lane a number of years ago. It was as if the owners (many are in private hands) were waiting for the chance to loan them. Thrilling

[Tom Kremer]

I've always liked Winslow Homer's sea pieces.

While the Orsay Museum in Paris undergoes renovation, part of their collection is on loan for a two part exhibit on Impressionist painting at the DeYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park. I went to see "The Birth of Impressionism" there last week and there were quite a number of boating-themed works with yachting and scenery from popular day trip resorts on the Seine providing inspiration for multiple painters.

http://orsay.famsf.org/

[Woxbox]

Always my favorite:

[PatrickXavier]

So, here's something (apart from the anchor's precariousness) I've always wondered about that Homer (Breezing Up): what's the line extending aft from the mast, seemingly defying all laws of nature?

[Woxbox]

You must be referring to the sprit. That's a sprit-rigged catboat they're sailing. What's puzzled me is that it's thin and black. I've never seen an iron sprit used anywhere. But it's too thin to be wood. And Homer wouldn't make a mistake on a detail like that. The line that takes the butt end up to the mast is the snotter. And that's interesting in this painting too, because normally that's set up one way or another so that the tension is easily adjusted. Looks like they've just tied a knot. But they're fishermen, so I trust they know exactly what they're doing, the position of the anchor included.

[rbgarr]

I especially like the shadows on the sail. So crisp in comparison to the hazy dreaminess of the rest of the painting. It gives such power to the scene: the crew lazing and watching the sail pull while the boat charges along heeling to the full breeze. The skipper holding the weather helm at the perfect angle and looking to see the next wave. Everyone in the same boat but their own worlds.

Homer knew what he saw.

[Gerarddm]

They guy on the foredeck looks awfully precarious to me- not to mention weighing down the bow.

As the breeze came up, I wonder if he didn't retreat to the cockpit weather rail?

Wonderful painting.