THE ART OF AUGUST
We are ending our tribute to August with American master Winslow Homer’s classic Breezing Up (A Fair Wind). His masterpiece in which the sailboat Gloucester speeds across the waves, driven by the force of a benevolent wind. Its occupants may be young, but at least two of them (on the right) are experienced, able to safely navigate the often unpredictable currents of the sea.
Fortunately, the sun continues to shine on their voyage, although are they aware of the dark clouds behind them? For a sudden gust can propel them off the canvas and out of our view!
Winslow Homer, Breezing Up (A Fair Wind), 1873-1876, oil on canvas, Gift of the W.L. and Mary T. Mellon Foundation, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Title: Breezing Up (A Fair Wind), 1873-1876
Artist: Winslow Homer (1836-1910)
In the public domain, courtesy of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
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