Coast of Maine
1893
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
1893
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
A large wave crashes against dark rocks on a rugged Maine coastline. Gray clouds hang low, and the sea sprays in thick white bursts. No people appear—just water, stone, and sky. Homer painted this after moving to Prouts Neck, where he lived alone and watched the ocean in storms and calm. He stayed there for years, going out in all weather to sketch the waves. The canvas is big, almost seven feet wide, so the wave feels like it could rush out at you. He used thick paint to show the force of the water, building texture with bold strokes. Look up impasto to see how painters use heavy paint to create real texture on the canvas.
