Two Boys Watching Schooners
1880 Art Institute of Chicago
About this artwork
A watercolor painting depicting two figures sitting on a large rock overlooking a harbor with sailboats. It is a quintessential example of Homer's mature watercolor style, focusing on light and atmosphere.
Did you know?
Winslow Homer was a pioneer in American watercolor, treating the medium with the same seriousness and depth typically reserved for oil painting. During his summer in Gloucester, Massachusetts, in 1880, he produced a significant series of watercolors that moved away from his earlier, tighter illustrative work toward the fluid, emotive style for which he is now world-renowned. This piece captures a quiet, universal moment of childhood leisure, perfectly framing the coastal life that would become a central theme of his later artistic career.
On your wall. Unlock the 4K download and keep this piece in your Vault — forever.
Know the artwork. Knowing its title and artist turns a beautiful image into a story worth sharing — with a museum label:
Two Boys Watching Schooners
Winslow Homer, 1880