In 1891, one critic described "Winter Coast" as "A most bleak, cold and 'shivery' place." Winslow Homer knew this "shivery" place well, as this cliff was visible from his studio in Maine.
Many of Homer's earlier work had focused on men and women who triumph over adverse nature. Over time, however, the painter increasingly emphasized the sublime beauty and power of the environment. Instead of heroic narratives, his later Maine seascapes focused on man's often grim struggle to survive. While the hunter in this image has successfully snared a wild goose, he remains dwarfed by his surroundings, standing alone against the unrelenting Atlantic Ocean.
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