Study for "Searchlight, Harbor Entrance, Santiago de Cuba"
Classification
landscapes
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Charles Savage Homer, Jr.
Accession Number
1912-12-86
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Winslow Homer, a towering figure in American realism, created this *Study for "Searchlight, Entrance, Santiago de Cuba around 1901. for his powerful depictions of the sea, nature, and human struggle, Homer often drew from dramatic real-world events. This preparatory work references the strategic harbor of Santiago de Cuba, a site during the Spanish-American War of 1898, where U.S. forces blockaded Spanish ships and secured a decisive victory. The "searchlight" evokes the nighttime vigilance of wartime naval operations, capturing a moment of illuminated tension amid the tropical waters. As a s...