Artwork
Mount Washington
Mount Washington is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Winslow Homer. It dates from 1869 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
- Accession no.
- 75957
- Credit line
- Gift of Mrs. Richard E. Danielson and Mrs. Chauncey McCormick
About this work
Overview
Mount Washington is an oil on canvas painting by Winslow Homer, created during his 1868 trip to the White Mountains of New Hampshire for Harper's Weekly.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a solitary figure in a red shirt standing on a rocky outcropping, gazing out at a valley shrouded in clouds. The scene presents a contrast between the vast, natural landscape and the presence of human activity.
Context
By the late 1860s, the White Mountains had become a tourist destination, with hotels, railroads, and trails catering to visitors. Homer's work reflects this shift, portraying the landscape as a setting for human experience rather than a sublime, untouched wilderness.
Technique & Style
Homer's composition features a rugged peak emerging from low clouds, with the wind-whipped figure adding a sense of dynamism to the scene. The painting showcases Homer's ability to capture the interplay between human presence and the natural environment.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Winslow Homer (February 24, 1836 – September 29, 1910) was an American landscape painter and illustrator, best known for his marine subjects.
