Winslow Homer "On the Stile"

If you checked in early, you will have noticed I changed paintings for this week.  I discovered my original selection needed permission to be used. So hopefully, we will be able to use it in the future.  So, today we have a sweet and romantic substitute. 
   Winslow Homer (1836-1910) is our artist, and he did this painting in 1878.   On the Stile is the title, and not knowing what a stile is, I looked it up. Stile are the steps which allow the young people to pass over the fence that is a barrior to sheep or cattle. 
   Homer created this work during his mature period.   Previously he had earned income as an illustrator depicting scenes of rural New England life, near where he lived.  When the Civil War broke out he was at the battlefield recording the life and horrors of war.   So now, in 1878, he has seen war, traveled to Europe and has fully matured as a complete artist.  He returns to his home area and one of his favorite subjects, children.  
    It is easy to disregard romantic images, but this one I find so powerful.   The composition is so amazing.   Our subjects are in the direct middle.  The fence divides the format in half horizontally,  and also provides a rhythm giving some movement left to right.  The stile cements the lower center, and the blue (which I assume to be a distant, forested mountain) provides the simple backdrop for the subjects, both dressed in light colored clothing.   The bottom portion is covered in rectangles, the top portion in triangles. Can you see them?  And, the top green branch pulls our eye down, ceiling off the top and bringing us close.
  One more comment:  Children are a difficult subject for painters as it is very easy to execute a "cute" work.  Children in an illustration can, and usually are cute, which is great.  But cuteness in a serious piece of art would be considered insulting.  Here Homer has portrayed a young couple out enjoying a beautiful day and reminds us of that time in our adolescence when we are learning to discover one another.     
    On the Stile was painted in 1878, it is a watercolor, gouache, and graphite on wove paper.  It measures 8.6 by 11.1 inch, so a small work.   It is the property of the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., and is currently not on exhibit.  
   Make Art a part of your life, it's a beautiful thing to do. 

Comments

  1. Char HarguthMay 26, 2021 at 1:38 PM

    One of my favorite artists, but I had not seen this lovely painting. The large, subdued forest is a great backdrop for the figures. The pale salmon sky tone adds to the warmth of the scene. The composition is stunning, with the slight slanting of the fence giving it more interest. Blurred areas, keep our focus on the details at the center of attention. Placing the boy and girl on the stile, and keeping them rather light gives a nostalgic look without being too "cute" !! Just the right accents to complete the narrative!! Tree branches and leaves balance the scene. (But is she going to step over that top railing??)

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  2. JudithMarie5May 26, 2021 at 6:30 PM

    Homer is also a favorite artist on mine superseded only by Sargent. The subject of 'cuteness' is ongoing with many artists. The young couple is not in any way saccharine. The strong composition holds the viewer's interest as does the lovely brush work and the muted colors. The added texture of the branches and leaves are a crucial addition.

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