The Pair Oared Shell 1872

Thomas Eakins made this oil on canvas, called "The Pair Oared Shell", sometime in the late 19th century, in Philadelphia. It depicts two figures rowing in a racing boat, passing under what looks like a bridge. The image creates meaning through its visual codes, referencing the contemporary culture of competitive sport. Rowing was an increasingly popular pastime of the upper and middle classes, and was associated with leisure and self-improvement. We can learn much about this culture from period newspapers, magazines, and sporting memorabilia. Eakins was one of the first directors of the Philadelphia art academy, but was forced to resign because his insistence on life drawing classes offended the conservative sensibilities of the institution. In this context, Eakins’ paintings of everyday life can be seen as a challenge to the prevailing artistic conventions of his time. He was self-consciously progressive, aiming to portray the human form with scientific accuracy. The painting critiques the institutions of art by depicting a real scene rather than an idealized or mythological one.