Fishermen in Oilskins, Cullercoats, England 1881

This 1881 pencil sketch, "Fishermen in Oilskins, Cullercoats, England" by Winslow Homer, depicts a group of fishermen standing in a row, facing away from the viewer. The figures are rendered in a loose, gestural style, with their forms indicated by a series of lines and shadows. The background is left mostly blank, except for some subtle shading that suggests a hazy atmosphere. The scene suggests the harsh and unforgiving conditions that these fishermen faced, a theme that Homer explored frequently in his art.