Who painted At Sea, Signalling a Passing Steamer?

At Sea, Signalling a Passing Steamer was painted by Winslow Homer in 1871.

Where can I see At Sea, Signalling a Passing Steamer?

At Sea, Signalling a Passing Steamer is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is At Sea, Signalling a Passing Steamer?

At Sea, Signalling a Passing Steamer is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

At Sea, Signalling a Passing Steamer

Winslow Homer , 1871

At Sea, Signalling a Passing Steamer is a print by the Impressionist artist Winslow Homer. It dates from 1871 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1871, *At Sea, Signalling a Passing Steamer* is a print by American artist Winslow Homer, whose early career combined commercial illustration with a later focus on oil painting. The work belongs to the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection and exemplifies Homer’s sustained interest in maritime subjects during the early 1870s.

Subject & Meaning

The image captures a moment of communication between two vessels: a large ship dominates the foreground, its hull and rigging rendered in profile, while a smaller craft approaches in the distance, a thin column of smoke issuing from its funnel. The composition suggests a tense exchange, emphasizing the isolation and interdependence of seafarers.

Technique & Style

Executed in a realistic manner, the print relies on precise line work and careful modulation of tone to convey texture and atmosphere. A restrained palette of blues and grays underpins the scene, while bold, gestural strokes impart a sense of movement and the restless energy of the sea.

History & Provenance

After its creation, the print entered the holdings of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains on view. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s broader effort to represent 19th‑century American art and to illustrate Homer’s development from illustrator to a leading figure in marine genre painting.

Context

The work emerges from a period when Homer was transitioning from illustration to independent oil painting, yet continued to produce prints that documented coastal life. The focus on a signaling encounter mirrors contemporary concerns about navigation, communication, and the hazards of maritime travel in post‑Civil War America.