Gloucester Harbor 1873

Winslow Homer created "Gloucester Harbor" with oil paints, likely applying them with brushes of varying sizes and softness. Homer was celebrated for his gestural brushwork. The loose application of paint captures the shimmering surface of the water and the hazy atmosphere, and the painting conveys the impression of spontaneity. But this belies the great skill required to achieve such an effect. Homer’s paintings, like those of many other artists, also depended on the availability of industrially produced pigments, manufactured and distributed at an unprecedented scale during the 19th century. The vivid colors of the painting, from the deep blues of the water to the warm oranges and pinks of the sky, were thus tied to a wider network of global trade and production. By understanding the materiality and making of "Gloucester Harbor," we can appreciate the complex social and economic forces that shaped its creation.