Breezing Up (A Fair Wind) by Winslow Homer

An image of the painting being described
Winslow Homer (American, 1836 – 1910), Breezing Up (A Fair Wind), 1873-1876, oil on canvas, Gift of the W. L. and May T. Mellon Foundation 1943.13.1

Breezing Up was a huge hit when Homer exhibited it during the American centennial, 1876. Viewers loved the optimism he conveyed in this scene of a trio of boys and their old skipper speeding towards port, one lad looking towards the horizon.

We’ll find out how Homer uses a technique we heard about in the Sargent episode that makes us feel like we’re on board and get a brief introduction to lithography, a popular printing method. And I confess to missing an important symbol!

SHOW NOTES (TRANSCRIPT)

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas youtu.be/jGEdNSNkZoo

Episode theme is “Today’s Special:Jam Tomorrow” by Dr. Turtle.
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Doctor_Turtle/Will_Play_Wonderwall_For_Food/Todays_Special_Jam_Tomorrow

Breezing Up information
https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.1401.html

https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.30228.html

Winslow Homer information
Wilmerding, John. Winslow Homer. New York: Praeger Publishers, 1972. Print.

American Paintings of the Nineteenth Century, Part 1 (PDF)
https://www.nga.gov/research/publications/pdf-library/american-paintings-of-the-nineteenth-century-part-i.html

American Stories information
https://www.nga.gov/calendar/guided-tours/docent-led-tours/american-stories.html

Lithography tutorial from Minneapolis Institute of Art (YouTube)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHw5_1Hopsc