White Mare by Winslow Homer
Look first

White Mare

Winslow Homer · c. 1868

A single horse emerges from a dark field like a thought pulled into focus.

What to notice

Compare the soft gray-white body with the reddish-brown ground; the horse is modeled with surprisingly few marks.

Discover

Homer made this oil sketch while visiting New Hampshire's White Mountains. It began as a study for a larger painting but stands on its own as a compact experiment in form and value.

Source institution: Cleveland Museum of Art
Rights status: CC0 / Cleveland Museum of Art Open Access
Cleveland Museum of Art
Source & image rights verified for launch
Primary source