Boy with Anchor, Winslow Homer, 1873

Like a fisherman’s daughter, this watercolor belongs to a series of works depicting the children of gloucester, the nation’s busiest seaport. At this time, fishing had become extremely hazardous, as boats ventured ever further offshore to haul in large catches. The massive anchor pointing toward the sea foreshadows the weight of the boy’s maritime destiny. Date: 1873. Place of creation: America, 19th century. Dimensions: Sheet: 19.4 x 34.9 cm (7 5/8 x 13 3/4 in.). Medium: graphite, watercolor and gouache. Collection: Cleveland Museum of Art. Clevelandart 1954.128