Salt Kettle, Bermuda

Salt Kettle, Bermuda is a striking watercolor over graphite on wove paper created by Winslow Homer in 1899. This exceptional piece exemplifies the artist's late career focus on tropical marine and coastal subjects, executed during a critical period defined by the years 1876 to 1900. While categorized as a drawing due to the foundational underlayer of graphite, the visual impact is defined by the rich, fluid handling of the watercolor medium. The American master frequently traveled to Bermuda in the late 1890s, seeking warmer climates during the winter months, and finding inspiration in the intense sunlight and clear blue waters unique to the island.

The work depicts a specific architectural structure, likely a robust wooden building or shed associated with local salt production, standing firmly against the expanse of water. Homer utilized the preliminary graphite framework to establish the composition's solid structure, allowing him to rapidly build upon it with layered washes of watercolor. This technique enables the piece to capture the transient effects of light, shadow, and highly reflective water surfaces with immediacy and vigor. Unlike his earlier, more meticulously detailed oil paintings, this work emphasizes broad planes of color and high contrast, employing the inherent qualities of watercolor to convey atmosphere rather than minute detail.

As a significant example of Homer’s mature style, this piece stands among his most celebrated explorations of the sea and the human interaction with it. The classification of the piece as a drawing highlights the preparatory foundation, though the rich color treatment and expressive technique are central to the overall effect. This essential artwork is housed within the distinguished permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. Given its historical provenance and age, high-quality digital reproductions and prints of this late nineteenth-century masterwork are frequently available through the public domain.