Eagle Head, Manchester, Massachusetts 1870

Winslow Homer painted this beach scene, Eagle Head, Manchester, Massachusetts, with oil. The composition is built on a contrast between the fluid, dynamic ocean and the static, upright figures on the beach. Homer uses a play of light and shadow to define the volumes and textures, from the wet sand reflecting the sky to the dark, almost gothic silhouette of the standing woman. Note how the bending figure creates a diagonal that counters the horizontal line of the sea, destabilizing a sense of traditional landscape. The dog in the foreground adds an element of spontaneity. The restrained palette enhances the reflective mood, but consider how Homer avoids sentimentality. The surface of the painting has a certain flatness, pushing against conventional depth, drawing attention to the artwork's constructed nature. This tension between representation and artifice is a key element of Homer’s approach.