Northeaster
1895; reworked by 1901
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
34 1/2 x 50 in. (87.6 x 127 cm) Framed: 48 13/16 x 64 3/4 x 5 7/8 in. (124 x 164.5 x 15 cm)
Classification
Painting
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of George A. Hearn, 1910
Accession Number
10.64.5
Tags
Art Historical Context
Winslow Homer's *Northeaster* (1895, reworked by 1901) the raw power of the sea in a monumental oil on canvas measuring 34½ × 50 inches. As a cornerstone of American Realism, Homer masterfully depicted dramatic seascapes, and this work exemplifies his fascination with nature's fury. The painting portrays turbulent waves crashing during a fierce storm, likely inspired by the rugged Maine coast where Homer spent his later years, evoking the relentless force of a "northeaster"—a powerful Atlantic gale. Homer's technique shines in his bold brushwork and masterful handling of light and color, rend...
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...