Kissing the Moon
1904 Addison Gallery of American Art
About this artwork
This oil on canvas painting depicts three fishermen in a dory rising on a swell of the Atlantic Ocean, with a full moon on the horizon. It is a late-career masterpiece by the American artist, known for his dramatic marine subjects.
Did you know?
The title 'Kissing the Moon' is a colloquial term among sailors for the optical illusion created when a boat crests a wave at the exact moment the moon aligns with the horizon, making it appear as if the vessel is touching the celestial body. Painted when Homer was living in Prout's Neck, Maine, the work exemplifies his intense fascination with the raw, elemental power of the sea and the perilous lives of those who worked upon it.
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Kissing the Moon
Winslow Homer, 1904
