Fishing off Scarborough
1882
Medium
Graphite and opaque white watercolor, with traces of black chalk, on medium weight, slightly-textured, tan laid paper with blue and red fibers
Dimensions
46.2 × 61.8 cm (18 1/4 × 24 3/8 in.)
Classification
graphite
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
16788
Art Historical Context
**Fishing off Scarborough** (1882) by Winslow Homer captures the rugged drama of coastal life, a recurring theme in the artist's oeuvre. Created during Homer's stay in Scarborough, England—a fishing village on the North Sea coast—this drawing depicts fishermen braving turbulent waters, reflecting his fascination with the perilous bond between man and sea. Homer, a leading American Realist, honed his skills observing everyday laborers, infusing his works with raw authenticity and emotional depth. Rendered in graphite with opaque white watercolor and traces of black chalk on tan laid paper, the...
About the Artist
Winslow Homer · 1836–1910
Winslow Homer (1836-1910) was one of America's greatest painters and a preeminent figure in 19th-century American art. Largely self-taught, Homer began his career as a commercial illustrator and Civil War correspondent for Harper's Weekly before becoming renowned for his powerful marine subjects and landscape paintings. His mastery of both oil and watercolor, combined with his uncompromising reali...