Sketches of Sailing Boats
Medium
seascapes
Classification
seascapes
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Charles Savage Homer, Jr.
Accession Number
1912-12-194
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Winslow Homer, a towering figure in American Realism (1836–1910), captured the raw power of sea in his iconic works and *Sketches Sailing Boats* from 1880 exemplifies his lifelong fascination with maritime life. during a pivotal period when Homer increasingly retreated to coastal Maine, these sketches reflect his keen observation of sailing vessels navigating turbulent waters—a recurring motif in his oeuvre that celebrated America's rugged seafaring heritage. As preparatory studies, likely rendered in pencil or charcoal, the sketches showcase Homer's masterful draftsmanship and economy of lin...