Undertow
1886 Clark Art Institute
About this artwork
This oil on canvas depicts two lifeguards rescuing two swimmers caught in a powerful current. It is considered one of Homer's most significant works focusing on the struggle between human life and the force of the ocean.
Did you know?
Winslow Homer painted this masterpiece after spending time in Atlantic City, where he witnessed the bravery of local volunteer lifeguards. The painting is notable for its sculptural treatment of the human figures, who appear almost like classical statues caught in the grip of the merciless, churning sea.
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Undertow
Winslow Homer, 1886
