Study for ‘The Fishing Party’ 1869

Winslow Homer made this study for ‘The Fishing Party’ using graphite on paper. As a study, it's a means to an end, a working through of ideas, and therefore has a different status than a finished work. Homer's marks are quick and efficient, with a lot of the paper still showing through, and he uses hatching to build up tone and volume, giving the scene its sense of depth and form. The figures are defined by simple, straightforward strokes, conveying a casual ease that speaks to leisure and recreation. The choice of graphite on paper is interesting. It's a humble, readily available material, perfectly suited for capturing fleeting moments and impressions. This immediacy allows Homer to experiment and refine his composition, while the simplicity of the medium keeps the focus on the interplay of light, shadow, and form. Homer made many paintings about working class people engaged in labor, but this is something different: a vision of leisure, a vision of class aspiration. The very accessibility of the materials asks us to question the social dynamics at play.