Under the Falls, the Grand Discharge 1895

Winslow Homer's "Under the Falls, the Grand Discharge" (1895) depicts the dramatic scene of a canoe navigating turbulent waters beneath a waterfall. The artwork, which is housed in the Brooklyn Museum, is a powerful example of Homer's ability to capture the raw power of nature and the resilience of human spirit. The dark, stormy sky and the churning water create a sense of danger and uncertainty, but the figures in the canoe are determined and steadfast. The painting is notable for its use of watercolor, which Homer mastered to convey the fluidity and movement of the water. The composition is also striking, with the waterfall filling the upper part of the canvas and the canoe placed low in the foreground, giving the viewer a sense of the immense scale of the scene.