Garden in Nassau, 1885 > Winslow Homer

Winslow Homer was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1836. He began his artistic career as a lithographic printmaker in the 1850’s and in the 1870’s, turned to painting of idyllic, nostalgic images of the past. Homer was heavily influenced by the Impressionists. He travelled through France where he preferred to work outdoors and demonstrated an interested in the effect of light on his subjects. He is frequently referred to as an American Impressionist, yet his work possesses a unique style. In 1873, Homer began to experiment with watercolour. His watercolours portray heroic fishermen, majestic seascapes, tropical settings, and mountain wilderness. Homer’s mastery of both oil and watercolour has lead to his recognition as one of America's greatest 19th century artists. Homer spent the last 25 years of his life in Prouts Neck, Maine. His work took on a more sombre tone and focused on naturalism, the depiction of the contemporary world.