Eight Bells 1887

"Eight Bells" is an 1887 etching by American artist Winslow Homer. Depicting two sailors on a ship's deck, one holding a sextant while the other looks on, the image captures the harsh realities of seafaring life. The dark, brooding atmosphere of the piece, with its stormy sky and turbulent waves, evokes a sense of isolation and danger, characteristic of Homer's later works. The use of strong lines and dramatic contrasts of light and shadow adds to the intensity of the scene.