PLEIN AIR HERITAGE
To escape the harsh Maine winters, Winslow Homer often traveled to the tropics, including Bermuda, where he turned to watercolor to capture the extraordinary light and color. Characterized by their spontaneity, freshness, and informal compositions, the 19 dazzling watercolors he painted there testify to the artist’s mastery of the medium at that point in his career. In fact, he believed them to be “as good work … as I ever did.” Drawn to the British Crown colony by prospects of painting and fishing, the artist spent six weeks in Bermuda the winter of 1899–1900. His watercolor work from that time demonstrates his preference for painting the blue skies and white clouds typical of the island’s climate. In scenes of sun-drenched harbors and shores like Salt Kettle, Bermuda, he often left parts…
