Rowing Home 1890

Winslow Homer created this watercolor painting, Rowing Home, using pigments suspended in water on paper. It’s a seemingly simple combination of materials, yet the effects are far from simple. Consider the fluidity of the paint, which allows Homer to capture the changing light on the water, and the overall sense of movement. Watercolor demands a certain spontaneity. The artist has to relinquish some control, allowing the material to express itself. Also, think about the social context. Homer made many paintings of working people, often in maritime settings. The visible labor of the rowers contrasts with the ethereal quality of the watercolor medium. This tension between the gritty reality of work and the refined tradition of painting makes you consider the value of both, and challenges any rigid distinction between the two.