The Gulf Stream 1899

Winslow Homer made this dramatic scene on canvas with oil paints. The smooth surface belies the turbulent story. The key to reading this painting is to understand how the materials and methods are tied to wider social issues. Homer was working in a tradition of maritime painting, but he’s also showing us a Black man adrift, surrounded by sharks, with a storm on the horizon. This isn’t just a depiction of man versus nature. It’s a statement about the dangers faced by people of color in the post-Reconstruction era. Look at the way Homer uses the oil paint to create a sense of movement in the water. He has built up the surface to create a rich and tactile surface, emphasizing the physical nature of the ocean. This materiality underscores the labor and struggle of the man in the boat. The painting becomes a powerful statement about survival. It collapses distinctions between fine art and social commentary.