On the Sands

Winslow Homer, 1881

The artwork "On the Sands" depicts a coastal scene with several figures and boats. The horizon is placed high in the composition, with a cloudy sky. The brushstrokes are loose and fluid, characteristic of watercolor, giving a soft and slightly blurred effect to the scene. Close to us, a group of women and children are gathered near a blue boat with a brown hull, which rests on wet sand reflecting the muted tones of the environment. In the distance, more figures and boats are visible, their forms becoming less distinct as they recede into the background. The color palette is dominated by grays, blues, and browns.
Artist
Winslow Homer
Date
1881
Type
Drawing
Medium
watercolor and gouache with pen and black ink over graphite
Dimensions
33.7 × 47.8 cm
Collection
National Gallery of Art, Washington
Licence
Public domain, CC0

Image description

The artwork "On the Sands" depicts a coastal scene with several figures and boats. The horizon is placed high in the composition, with a cloudy sky. The brushstrokes are loose and fluid, characteristic of watercolor, giving a soft and slightly blurred effect to the scene. Close to us, a group of women and children are gathered near a blue boat with a brown hull, which rests on wet sand reflecting the muted tones of the environment. In the distance, more figures and boats are visible, their forms becoming less distinct as they recede into the background. The color palette is dominated by grays, blues, and browns.

Winslow Homer