A basket of mussels, Winslow Homer - 1873 from the old master collection

In June 1873 Homer went to Gloucester, Massachusetts, where he painted his first watercolours, pictures of local children playing in dories, sitting on the docks, helping out with chores, or simply dealing with their own youthful cares. One of the most beautiful products of that summer of experimentation is " A basket of mussels ". This is the earliest watercolour the museum has bought from him. The artist summarises the modest responsibilities of youth in this captivating sculpture of two boys carrying a large basket of mussels along a beach dotted with shells. The background buildings and the cropped two-masted sailboat refer to Gloucester's maritime activity. This charming sheet typifies the direct observation, powerful design and dazzling light of Homer's first watercolours. Memories of his experience as an illustrator are reflected in his sense of pattern, use of sharp contours and flat washes, and attention to detail. Homer shared his interest in childhood with many American artists from the 1870s. Their paintings responded to the spirit of the post-Bellum era, when the desire for national healing and the challenges of urban and industrial growth made children the symbol of a simpler and more innocent time and of America'a hope for the future.