Breezing Up
1873-1876 National Gallery of Art
About this artwork
This iconic American painting depicts a catboat named 'Gloucester' navigating choppy waters with three boys and a man on board. It is widely considered one of the most famous and beloved images in American 19th-century art.
Did you know?
Winslow Homer spent time in Gloucester, Massachusetts, where he observed the local maritime culture and the resilience of the working people. Interestingly, he originally painted an adult man holding the tiller, but later revised it to include the boys, perhaps to soften the scene or emphasize a sense of youthful freedom. The painting perfectly captures the optimism of the post-Civil War era in America.
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Breezing Up
Winslow Homer, 1873-1876
