Winslow Homer: Force of Nature Catalogue

Accompanies the exhibition at the National Gallery, London, 10 September 2022– 8 January 2023.

This beautifully illustrated catalogue provides an accessible introduction to American painter Winslow Homer who was, by the time of his death in 1910, one of the most celebrated and original artists in the USA.

The themes of his first works – the American Civil War and Reconstruction – ignited his lifelong fascination with the ideas of struggle and conflict. During an extended stay among the fishing communities on the north-east coast of England, Homer depicted scenes of everyday heroism and resilience in the face of the perils of the raging sea. He also explored Florida, the Caribbean and the Bahamas, producing dazzling tropical watercolours. Finally, in his later works, he dedicated whole canvases to evoking the physical properties of sea, sky and coastline.

Presenting a selection of masterpieces spanning his entire career, this book also addresses the complex social and political issues of Homer’s era and how the artist sought to engage with them.

Authors

Christine Riding is the Jacob Rothschild Head of the Curatorial Department and Curator of British Paintings at the National Gallery, London.

Christopher Riopelle is the Neil Westreich Curator of Post-1800 Paintings at the National Gallery, London.

Chiara Di Stefano is the Harry M. Weinrebe Curatorial Fellow at the National Gallery, London.