The Gilded Age in American Art

Discussion Starters: Visual
Where is the horizon line? Because the horizon line is low, the sky occupies about two thirds of the picture.

How did Homer express the effects of light and shadow in this landscape?

Do the two figures in the painting belong to the same social class? Why not? Homer often included people from different social classes in the same painting. Homer was particularly interested in oppositions. What oppositions do you see in this painting?

Notice the two figures' clothing and the objects scattered around them. What is the man's profession? The man is a fisherman and so his livelihood depends on nature. The woman is probably a vacationer taking a stroll on the beach. How is the woman's relationship to nature different than the man's?

Does the woman look out at the viewer? She is engaged in conversation with the fisherman. Are viewers invited into this painting or are they observers?

Discuss the mood of the two figures' conversation. Is it peaceful or agitated?

Compare the mood of the two figures to their surroundings. Consider the gray cloud filled sky and shadows below. Consider how much space the two figures fill compared to nature. What mood do the gray clouds and cloud shadows convey?

Has Homer emphasized man or nature? Why?