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Signature in Palette

Winslow Homer

1873

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

Signature in Palette is a 1873 ink by Winslow Homer, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Winslow Homer
When & what style?: 1873 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This looks like a quick sketch in brown ink on paper. The drawing shows a loose, wavy line forming a shape that could be a hat or a cloud, with a few small strokes underneath. The letters "Winslow Homer" are written in a hurried, uneven hand near the bottom right. The sketch feels almost like doodling—just a few lines to capture an idea. It’s not polished, which makes it feel personal, like a note to self rather than a finished work. If you like this style, check out cross-hatching next to see how artists build detail with layers of lines.