Study for ‘The Herring Net’ 1884

"Study for ‘The Herring Net’" (1884) is a charcoal drawing by the American artist Winslow Homer. This is a study for one of Homer's most famous oil paintings, "The Herring Net." It depicts two fishermen hauling in a net full of herring from a small boat. The scene is set against a muted gray sky with a few white sails in the distance, giving the impression of a storm brewing on the open ocean. This drawing reflects the themes of seafaring and the working life of fishermen that are prominent in many of Homer’s later works.