On a recent podcast I mentioned that I had attended a lecture at the Harvard Art Museums. The lecture was three different curators discussing a single painting: Winslow Homer's Summer Night. In the two photos here you can see the lecture and then the actual painting:
This is a very different work for Winslow Homer. Here's a photo of the artist himself from winslowhomer.org:
There's a longish bio of him at the website I mentioned above, which is worth reading. In case you're not familiar with his work, here are a couple of his more famous nautical paintings (from wikipedia):
As you can see, most of his dramatic at sea paintings involve danger or the threat of danger. By contrast, Summer Night is an absolute walk in the park. It's not a painting that I was familiar with, and if I'm being honest, it's not a painting that I would have given a second glance at in a museum. In fact, here are some of the other pieces that were in the same gallery as Summer Night:
I find all of these works far more visually arresting. So, what makes Summer Night worthy of an hour-long lecture by academics imported from all over the globe?
Interestingly enough, that question was part of what was discussed during the lecture. There were differing theories. However, one thing that was not brought up was a question I have: Would we be talking about this painting if it hadn't been painted by Homer? Or is it interesting to us because we respect Homer?
I don't know the answer, but it's an interesting one to ponder. Do you have an opinion? I'd love to know!
Here's one last look at Summer Night:
Thanks for stopping by!
Interesting. Thanks so much for sharing. I found the broad brush strokes interesting on the figure’s dress and face. I so appreciate what you share with your audience. So meaningful especially for those of us not living near or able to be part of such richness of the arts and museums. Thank you!
Interesting. Thanks so much for sharing. I found the broad brush strokes interesting on the figure’s dress and face. I so appreciate what you share with your audience. So meaningful especially for those of us not living near or able to be part of such richness of the arts and museums. Thank you!
Interesting. Thanks so much for sharing. I found the broad brush strokes interesting on the figure’s dress and face. I so appreciate what you share with your audience. So meaningful especially for those of us not living near or able to be part of such richness of the arts and museums. Thank you!
Interesting. Thanks so much for sharing. I found the broad brush strokes interesting on the figure’s dress and face. I so appreciate what you share with your audience. So meaningful especially for those of us not living near or able to be part of such richness of the arts and museums. Thank you!
Interesting. Thanks so much for sharing. I found the broad brush strokes interesting on the figure’s dress and face. I so appreciate what you share with your audience. So meaningful especially for those of us not living near or able to be part of such richness of the arts and museums. Thank you!
Interesting. Thanks so much for sharing. I found the broad brush strokes interesting on the figure’s dress and face. I so appreciate what you share with your audience. So meaningful especially for those of us not living near or able to be part of such richness of the arts and museums. Thank you!
I have always loved that painting- Summer Night. There’s an energy, a “something about it” thing to it that has always called to me. Maybe a hidden story. I was drawn to it before I knew it was a Homer painting, so *I* would say yes, it’s worth discussing regardless of the painter.
I recently re-listened to all your podcasts and I find it so interesting how you and your mom and I (not to make this sound weirdly personal, or whatever) both appreciate art at an almost obsessive level, but have such different takes on it. I love that about art. We can all be huge fans but have so many different, aalmost opposite-ends-of-the-spectrum things that resonate with us, and even with all those differences, we can all bond through our mutual love of art.
[Please, Julie, more of these posts and art (outside of the paper craft industry) podcasts. They are so inspiring and as a “lapsed” art historian, I really appreciate them more than I can tell you.It makes me want to get out all my old theory books and dig back in.]
I have always loved that painting- Summer Night. There’s an energy, a “something about it” thing to it that has always called to me. Maybe a hidden story. I was drawn to it before I knew it was a Homer painting, so *I* would say yes, it’s worth discussing regardless of the painter.
I recently re-listened to all your podcasts and I find it so interesting how you and your mom and I (not to make this sound weirdly personal, or whatever) both appreciate art at an almost obsessive level, but have such different takes on it. I love that about art. We can all be huge fans but have so many different, aalmost opposite-ends-of-the-spectrum things that resonate with us, and even with all those differences, we can all bond through our mutual love of art.
[Please, Julie, more of these posts and art (outside of the paper craft industry) podcasts. They are so inspiring and as a “lapsed” art historian, I really appreciate them more than I can tell you.It makes me want to get out all my old theory books and dig back in.]
I have always loved that painting- Summer Night. There’s an energy, a “something about it” thing to it that has always called to me. Maybe a hidden story. I was drawn to it before I knew it was a Homer painting, so *I* would say yes, it’s worth discussing regardless of the painter.
I recently re-listened to all your podcasts and I find it so interesting how you and your mom and I (not to make this sound weirdly personal, or whatever) both appreciate art at an almost obsessive level, but have such different takes on it. I love that about art. We can all be huge fans but have so many different, aalmost opposite-ends-of-the-spectrum things that resonate with us, and even with all those differences, we can all bond through our mutual love of art.
[Please, Julie, more of these posts and art (outside of the paper craft industry) podcasts. They are so inspiring and as a “lapsed” art historian, I really appreciate them more than I can tell you.It makes me want to get out all my old theory books and dig back in.]
I have always loved that painting- Summer Night. There’s an energy, a “something about it” thing to it that has always called to me. Maybe a hidden story. I was drawn to it before I knew it was a Homer painting, so *I* would say yes, it’s worth discussing regardless of the painter.
I recently re-listened to all your podcasts and I find it so interesting how you and your mom and I (not to make this sound weirdly personal, or whatever) both appreciate art at an almost obsessive level, but have such different takes on it. I love that about art. We can all be huge fans but have so many different, aalmost opposite-ends-of-the-spectrum things that resonate with us, and even with all those differences, we can all bond through our mutual love of art.
[Please, Julie, more of these posts and art (outside of the paper craft industry) podcasts. They are so inspiring and as a “lapsed” art historian, I really appreciate them more than I can tell you.It makes me want to get out all my old theory books and dig back in.]
I have always loved that painting- Summer Night. There’s an energy, a “something about it” thing to it that has always called to me. Maybe a hidden story. I was drawn to it before I knew it was a Homer painting, so *I* would say yes, it’s worth discussing regardless of the painter.
I recently re-listened to all your podcasts and I find it so interesting how you and your mom and I (not to make this sound weirdly personal, or whatever) both appreciate art at an almost obsessive level, but have such different takes on it. I love that about art. We can all be huge fans but have so many different, aalmost opposite-ends-of-the-spectrum things that resonate with us, and even with all those differences, we can all bond through our mutual love of art.
[Please, Julie, more of these posts and art (outside of the paper craft industry) podcasts. They are so inspiring and as a “lapsed” art historian, I really appreciate them more than I can tell you.It makes me want to get out all my old theory books and dig back in.]
I have always loved that painting- Summer Night. There’s an energy, a “something about it” thing to it that has always called to me. Maybe a hidden story. I was drawn to it before I knew it was a Homer painting, so *I* would say yes, it’s worth discussing regardless of the painter.
I recently re-listened to all your podcasts and I find it so interesting how you and your mom and I (not to make this sound weirdly personal, or whatever) both appreciate art at an almost obsessive level, but have such different takes on it. I love that about art. We can all be huge fans but have so many different, aalmost opposite-ends-of-the-spectrum things that resonate with us, and even with all those differences, we can all bond through our mutual love of art.
[Please, Julie, more of these posts and art (outside of the paper craft industry) podcasts. They are so inspiring and as a “lapsed” art historian, I really appreciate them more than I can tell you.It makes me want to get out all my old theory books and dig back in.]
Hi Julie,
The Homer Winslow paintings to me are so compelling. Looking through the list of paintings. I get a sense of realism. The ocean paintings look like he was actually there watching it.
Hence giving me the sense as if I too am watching it all unfold.
The Summer Night painting is beckoning to me too.
I love the ocean and love to watch the waves and get the sense of its rawness and strength.
The still life paintings makes me want to reach in and grab a piece of fruit.
The picture of the lady in black. I feel sadness for her. I love paintings like that because it looks like a painted photograph. Not that it was painted from a photograph but it is as good as a photograph in our day.
Hope all is well in Florida
Happy Tuesday
Fawna
Hi Julie,
The Homer Winslow paintings to me are so compelling. Looking through the list of paintings. I get a sense of realism. The ocean paintings look like he was actually there watching it.
Hence giving me the sense as if I too am watching it all unfold.
The Summer Night painting is beckoning to me too.
I love the ocean and love to watch the waves and get the sense of its rawness and strength.
The still life paintings makes me want to reach in and grab a piece of fruit.
The picture of the lady in black. I feel sadness for her. I love paintings like that because it looks like a painted photograph. Not that it was painted from a photograph but it is as good as a photograph in our day.
Hope all is well in Florida
Happy Tuesday
Fawna
Hi Julie,
The Homer Winslow paintings to me are so compelling. Looking through the list of paintings. I get a sense of realism. The ocean paintings look like he was actually there watching it.
Hence giving me the sense as if I too am watching it all unfold.
The Summer Night painting is beckoning to me too.
I love the ocean and love to watch the waves and get the sense of its rawness and strength.
The still life paintings makes me want to reach in and grab a piece of fruit.
The picture of the lady in black. I feel sadness for her. I love paintings like that because it looks like a painted photograph. Not that it was painted from a photograph but it is as good as a photograph in our day.
Hope all is well in Florida
Happy Tuesday
Fawna
Hi Julie,
The Homer Winslow paintings to me are so compelling. Looking through the list of paintings. I get a sense of realism. The ocean paintings look like he was actually there watching it.
Hence giving me the sense as if I too am watching it all unfold.
The Summer Night painting is beckoning to me too.
I love the ocean and love to watch the waves and get the sense of its rawness and strength.
The still life paintings makes me want to reach in and grab a piece of fruit.
The picture of the lady in black. I feel sadness for her. I love paintings like that because it looks like a painted photograph. Not that it was painted from a photograph but it is as good as a photograph in our day.
Hope all is well in Florida
Happy Tuesday
Fawna
Hi Julie,
The Homer Winslow paintings to me are so compelling. Looking through the list of paintings. I get a sense of realism. The ocean paintings look like he was actually there watching it.
Hence giving me the sense as if I too am watching it all unfold.
The Summer Night painting is beckoning to me too.
I love the ocean and love to watch the waves and get the sense of its rawness and strength.
The still life paintings makes me want to reach in and grab a piece of fruit.
The picture of the lady in black. I feel sadness for her. I love paintings like that because it looks like a painted photograph. Not that it was painted from a photograph but it is as good as a photograph in our day.
Hope all is well in Florida
Happy Tuesday
Fawna
Hi Julie,
The Homer Winslow paintings to me are so compelling. Looking through the list of paintings. I get a sense of realism. The ocean paintings look like he was actually there watching it.
Hence giving me the sense as if I too am watching it all unfold.
The Summer Night painting is beckoning to me too.
I love the ocean and love to watch the waves and get the sense of its rawness and strength.
The still life paintings makes me want to reach in and grab a piece of fruit.
The picture of the lady in black. I feel sadness for her. I love paintings like that because it looks like a painted photograph. Not that it was painted from a photograph but it is as good as a photograph in our day.
Hope all is well in Florida
Happy Tuesday
Fawna
Having grown up in Gloucester I saw some of the more popular Homer paintings on a regular basis (on signs and reproductions hanging in offices).
Having grown up in Gloucester I saw some of the more popular Homer paintings on a regular basis (on signs and reproductions hanging in offices).
Having grown up in Gloucester I saw some of the more popular Homer paintings on a regular basis (on signs and reproductions hanging in offices).
Having grown up in Gloucester I saw some of the more popular Homer paintings on a regular basis (on signs and reproductions hanging in offices).
Having grown up in Gloucester I saw some of the more popular Homer paintings on a regular basis (on signs and reproductions hanging in offices).
Having grown up in Gloucester I saw some of the more popular Homer paintings on a regular basis (on signs and reproductions hanging in offices).
Boys In A Pasture was one that my MIL had hanging above her couch. I never realized it was Homer until I just read the bio. Funny when I consider just how often I’ve looked at it in the past.
Boys In A Pasture was one that my MIL had hanging above her couch. I never realized it was Homer until I just read the bio. Funny when I consider just how often I’ve looked at it in the past.
Boys In A Pasture was one that my MIL had hanging above her couch. I never realized it was Homer until I just read the bio. Funny when I consider just how often I’ve looked at it in the past.
Boys In A Pasture was one that my MIL had hanging above her couch. I never realized it was Homer until I just read the bio. Funny when I consider just how often I’ve looked at it in the past.
Boys In A Pasture was one that my MIL had hanging above her couch. I never realized it was Homer until I just read the bio. Funny when I consider just how often I’ve looked at it in the past.
Boys In A Pasture was one that my MIL had hanging above her couch. I never realized it was Homer until I just read the bio. Funny when I consider just how often I’ve looked at it in the past.
My parents had a wonderful Homer painting in their art collection. Wish I had taken a photo of that, silly me. Among the works you show the odd nude with the gremlin in the lower left and the sperm swimmers cracks me up. I have to wonder what he was thinking on that one! Thank you for all that you share and keep up the great work! I cannot imagine how you keep up the pace and with such style!
My parents had a wonderful Homer painting in their art collection. Wish I had taken a photo of that, silly me. Among the works you show the odd nude with the gremlin in the lower left and the sperm swimmers cracks me up. I have to wonder what he was thinking on that one! Thank you for all that you share and keep up the great work! I cannot imagine how you keep up the pace and with such style!
My parents had a wonderful Homer painting in their art collection. Wish I had taken a photo of that, silly me. Among the works you show the odd nude with the gremlin in the lower left and the sperm swimmers cracks me up. I have to wonder what he was thinking on that one! Thank you for all that you share and keep up the great work! I cannot imagine how you keep up the pace and with such style!
My parents had a wonderful Homer painting in their art collection. Wish I had taken a photo of that, silly me. Among the works you show the odd nude with the gremlin in the lower left and the sperm swimmers cracks me up. I have to wonder what he was thinking on that one! Thank you for all that you share and keep up the great work! I cannot imagine how you keep up the pace and with such style!
My parents had a wonderful Homer painting in their art collection. Wish I had taken a photo of that, silly me. Among the works you show the odd nude with the gremlin in the lower left and the sperm swimmers cracks me up. I have to wonder what he was thinking on that one! Thank you for all that you share and keep up the great work! I cannot imagine how you keep up the pace and with such style!
My parents had a wonderful Homer painting in their art collection. Wish I had taken a photo of that, silly me. Among the works you show the odd nude with the gremlin in the lower left and the sperm swimmers cracks me up. I have to wonder what he was thinking on that one! Thank you for all that you share and keep up the great work! I cannot imagine how you keep up the pace and with such style!
All of the paintings seem to have a morbidity about them. When I looked at summer night I thought of dancing with death. And the people in shadow as all the others that had died before them say in the above paintings. Also the woman with the swimmers as mentioned above, made me think of the anguish and despair a woman feels after a miscarriage or if she wants a baby but is unsuccessful at getting pregnant. All of the paintings are quite dark and it makes the still life paintings seem out of place. Thank you for taking the close up pictures of the lady in white. When I’m working I always forget to back away and look. In this case (very much unlike my own) I love that you can see the brush strokes and ridges. Fabulous!
All of the paintings seem to have a morbidity about them. When I looked at summer night I thought of dancing with death. And the people in shadow as all the others that had died before them say in the above paintings. Also the woman with the swimmers as mentioned above, made me think of the anguish and despair a woman feels after a miscarriage or if she wants a baby but is unsuccessful at getting pregnant. All of the paintings are quite dark and it makes the still life paintings seem out of place. Thank you for taking the close up pictures of the lady in white. When I’m working I always forget to back away and look. In this case (very much unlike my own) I love that you can see the brush strokes and ridges. Fabulous!
All of the paintings seem to have a morbidity about them. When I looked at summer night I thought of dancing with death. And the people in shadow as all the others that had died before them say in the above paintings. Also the woman with the swimmers as mentioned above, made me think of the anguish and despair a woman feels after a miscarriage or if she wants a baby but is unsuccessful at getting pregnant. All of the paintings are quite dark and it makes the still life paintings seem out of place. Thank you for taking the close up pictures of the lady in white. When I’m working I always forget to back away and look. In this case (very much unlike my own) I love that you can see the brush strokes and ridges. Fabulous!
All of the paintings seem to have a morbidity about them. When I looked at summer night I thought of dancing with death. And the people in shadow as all the others that had died before them say in the above paintings. Also the woman with the swimmers as mentioned above, made me think of the anguish and despair a woman feels after a miscarriage or if she wants a baby but is unsuccessful at getting pregnant. All of the paintings are quite dark and it makes the still life paintings seem out of place. Thank you for taking the close up pictures of the lady in white. When I’m working I always forget to back away and look. In this case (very much unlike my own) I love that you can see the brush strokes and ridges. Fabulous!
All of the paintings seem to have a morbidity about them. When I looked at summer night I thought of dancing with death. And the people in shadow as all the others that had died before them say in the above paintings. Also the woman with the swimmers as mentioned above, made me think of the anguish and despair a woman feels after a miscarriage or if she wants a baby but is unsuccessful at getting pregnant. All of the paintings are quite dark and it makes the still life paintings seem out of place. Thank you for taking the close up pictures of the lady in white. When I’m working I always forget to back away and look. In this case (very much unlike my own) I love that you can see the brush strokes and ridges. Fabulous!
All of the paintings seem to have a morbidity about them. When I looked at summer night I thought of dancing with death. And the people in shadow as all the others that had died before them say in the above paintings. Also the woman with the swimmers as mentioned above, made me think of the anguish and despair a woman feels after a miscarriage or if she wants a baby but is unsuccessful at getting pregnant. All of the paintings are quite dark and it makes the still life paintings seem out of place. Thank you for taking the close up pictures of the lady in white. When I’m working I always forget to back away and look. In this case (very much unlike my own) I love that you can see the brush strokes and ridges. Fabulous!