Under a Palm Tree 1886

Winslow Homer made this watercolor, Under a Palm Tree, likely in 1886. Here, Homer has used watercolor in a way that's both transparent and robust. Notice how the paper shines through in areas, giving luminosity to the scene, yet the colors are also deeply saturated, particularly in the figure's shawl. This wasn't just a quick sketch. Homer built up layers of pigment, allowing each to dry before applying the next. The process of watercolor painting allowed Homer to capture the atmospheric conditions of a tropical setting, and the very immediacy of watercolor lends itself to capturing fleeting moments. The social context is there: Homer, an American artist, depicting a woman of color in what may have been a colonial setting. By carefully considering the materials and techniques, we can see how this work transcends a simple genre scene. Homer’s attention to the process allows us to understand the painting as a complex interplay of observation, skill, and cultural exchange.