There it is..... A masterpiece of American painting, Breezing up.This was a result of the Gloucester trip.By this time Homer was ensconced in the fabled 10th st. studio. That keeps popping up in my histories here is a link to a previous entry on that
Returning from the Gloucester trip with this watercolor......
Homer laboriously works it up into "Breezing Up". The painting was a sensation and was heavily reproduced, receiving enormous critical acclaim.This is a roughly painted picture, very simply made, most of it is a modulated brown underpainting. It is not a technical tour de force. But that is in keeping with its subject. Gloucester is gritty and working class. Had this picture been painted like a Bouguereau it would have failed.
THE TECHNIQUE IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE SUBJECT MATTER.
The design shows Homer's study of Japanese prints and its asymmetrical composition is different than most of the American art before it. Leaning that boat (the subject) out of the left hand side of the painting is daring and oriental.
I have to teach a workshop tomorrow morning,, I am typing this in an antique hotel up in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, so I will elaborate more tomorrow.
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6 comments:
Wow! He shows us that he knows it!
The technique is appropriate to the subject matter...hmmm
Stape! If Winslow had a neck tatoo
what do you suppose it said?
bill:
It said; "Believe in yourself,and confidently do it your own way".
.............Stape
Great use of horizon again.
You are a horizon man aren't you?
.........................Stape
the lean of the boat is what creates the drama, it shows us there's wind, and that driving that boat is exciting. I've sailed enough to feel the wind push a boat in sudden gusts, lifting me up, down, up, down. You have to worry turning any small amount, to adjust the sail or capsize. It's what creates the story, and shows these boys love adventure.
Oh, could you enlarge that B&W watercolor? It's a very small size image. Or post a link to where you got it? Thanks.
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