Who painted In the Mountains?

In the Mountains was painted by Winslow Homer in 1889.

Where can I see In the Mountains?

In the Mountains is held by Brooklyn Museum.

What movement is In the Mountains?

In the Mountains is associated with American Impressionism.

Artwork

In the Mountains

Winslow Homer , 1889

In the Mountains is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Winslow Homer. It dates from 1889 and is held in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1889, *In the Mountains* is an oil painting by Winslow Homer that exemplifies his later interest in atmospheric landscape.

Created in 1889, *In the Mountains* is an oil painting by Winslow Homer that exemplifies his later interest in atmospheric landscape. The work shows a small group of figures positioned on a gently rising slope, set against a muted sky where clouds dominate and occasional blue patches break through. The composition invites the viewer to share a moment of quiet observation within a rugged natural setting.

Subject & Meaning

Four individuals, clothed in long‑sleeved garments and hats, stand on a dirt‑ and rock‑strewn hillside that ascends to the left. Their posture suggests a pause in a hike or an exploratory walk, emphasizing a contemplative relationship between humans and the surrounding terrain. The painting conveys a sense of modest engagement with nature rather than dramatic adventure.

Technique & Style

Homer employs a restrained palette of earth tones, grays, and subdued blues, applying the oil medium with a dense, tactile brushwork that builds surface texture. Light is modulated through the cloud cover, creating subtle shifts in tone that enhance depth and atmospheric perspective, hallmarks of his turn toward an American Impressionist sensibility.

History & Provenance

The piece belongs to the period when Homer, after a successful career as a commercial illustrator, devoted himself to oil painting and landscape subjects. *In the Mountains* reflects his mature phase, during which he produced a substantial body of work focusing on natural scenes across the United States. Specific ownership records for this painting are not detailed in the available sources.