Warm Afternoon

Warm Afternoon is a significant drawing created by Winslow Homer in 1878. This masterful example of late 19th-century American art is technically classified as a drawing, employing a complex combination of watercolor, gouache, and graphite on wove paper that was originally gray-green but has since faded to a brown tone. The piece exemplifies the rapid advancement of Homer’s technical skill during this highly productive phase, roughly spanning the period 1876 to 1900.

Homer utilized the specific properties of the media to achieve a delicate balance between defined form and atmospheric effect. The application of watercolor allows for translucent washes, capturing the haziness and heat implied by the title, while the opaque gouache provides necessary highlights and structural definition. Subtle touches of graphite anchor the composition and define key contours. This mixed-media approach demonstrates Homer's shift toward the expressive potential of works on paper, media he mastered during the 1870s and 1880s, firmly establishing him as the preeminent watercolorist of his generation.

This representation is crucial for understanding the artist’s thematic preoccupations following his earlier career documenting the Civil War. Homer turned increasingly toward quiet, domestic scenes and interactions with the natural world, often rendered with great immediacy and emotional restraint. The quality of light and the evocative setting are hallmarks of this era.

This work resides in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, ensuring its preservation as a cornerstone of American artistic history. Its documentation and visibility are vital for scholars studying 19th-century draftsmanship. As an historically important drawing, high-resolution digital copies are frequently available, allowing the work to be viewed globally, often entering the public domain and facilitating the creation of academic prints.