Winslow Homer at the National Gallery, London.
I recently had the good fortune to attend an exhibition of Winslow Homer paintings at the National Gallery in London. Homer was an American painter who worked extensively in oil and watercolour. Most famous for his marine paintings, he did not shy away from the difficult subjects of his age; subjects such as slavery and the American Civil War. He also spent some time in the North East of England, painting the people associated with the sea.
The standard of Homer’s draftsmanship is unquestionable, but what I really enjoyed about the exhibition was witnessing first-hand the painterly nature of his work. In the painting “Fog Warning”, the sea is rendered so beautifully, with angry crests virtually jumping from the canvas. Looking closely, the looseness of Homer’s brushstrokes contradict the first impression of incredible detail. “Northeaster, 1895” similarly depicts a boiling sea breaking on the shore, foam and spray picked out with breathtaking skill using suprisingly bold strokes.
I don’t believe there are any Winslow Homer paintings permanently housed in the UK - at least not where an ordinary person can go and view them. You have until 8th January 2023 - take my advice; go and see it.
