Winslow Homer“One of the greatest of American artist, Winslow Homer was outstanding as both a figure and

landscape painter and as a watercolorist.”

Artist Life

• Born in Boston, February 24, 1836• Was an American landscape painter and printmaking.• Best known for his marine subjects• Homer began his career working as a commercial illustrator.• Homer was the second of three son ofCharles and Henrietta Benson Homer.• He was an average student, but his art talent was evident in his early years.• His early work , mostly commercial engraving of urban and country social scenes, like simplified forms, dramatic contrast of light and dark, and livelyfigure groupings.

Wood Engraving

Artist Life cont.

•The strength of his illustrations, especially his Civil War subjects, first established his reputation.• After Civil War he concentrated on oil painting.• In 1866-67 he lived in Paris.• He took up water color painting in 1873 and became and undisputed masterof the medium.

Civil War Painting

Artist Life cont.

In 1881, Homer abandoned his familiar subject matter of children and country scenes and moved to the fishing village of Cullercoats in England, where he began to paint the heroic life of the fisher folk in their battle with the sea.

Fishing Village Painting

Artist Life cont.

After late 1905, illness prevented Homer from painting, but near the end of his life he regained his strength and inspiration and painted important work.

Winslow Homer never married, he died in 1910 at the age of 74 in his Prout’s Neck studio, is now owned by the Portland Museum of Art.

In 1893, “The Fox Hunt”, which depicts a flock of starving crows descending on a fox slowed by deep snow.

U.S. Stamp

In 1962, the U.S. post office released a stamphonoring Winslow Homer’s famous oilpainting.

Winslow Homer Studio

“The life I have chosen gives me hours of enjoyment for the balance of my life. The sun will not rise, or set without my notice, and thanks.” - Winslow Homer