A Basket of Clams
1873 Metropolitan Museum of Art
About this artwork
This watercolor depicts two young boys standing on a sandy shore in Gloucester, Massachusetts, with a large fishing boat anchored in the background. It is a prime example of Homer’s mastery of the watercolor medium in depicting the daily life of coastal communities.
Did you know?
Winslow Homer spent the summer of 1873 in Gloucester, Massachusetts, where he began shifting his focus toward the lives of the local fishing community. This period marked a crucial transition in his career, as he moved away from magazine illustration toward the sophisticated watercolor technique that would define his later reputation. The scene captures a quiet, unidealized moment of childhood work, characteristic of his observant and empathetic approach to American life.
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A Basket of Clams
Winslow Homer, 1873
