ticketsMember | Make a donation

Eagle Head, Manchester, Massachusetts (High Tide)

Winslow Homer American
1870
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 763
After the Civil War, Homer often explored women’s new societal roles in his art. This modern leisure subject confounded critics when it was first exhibited in New York, in 1870, perhaps for its disquieting sense of voyeurism and mystery. Emerging after a swim, a woman wrings out her heavy bathing clothes and hair as a small dog appears startled by dripping water. Some viewers focused on issues of decorum and class, criticizing the women’s state of undress—even though they wear typical bathing costumes of the era—and one described them as "exceedingly red-legged and ungainly."

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Eagle Head, Manchester, Massachusetts (High Tide)
  • Artist: Winslow Homer (American, Boston, Massachusetts 1836–1910 Prouts Neck, Maine)
  • Date: 1870
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Oil on canvas
  • Dimensions: 26 x 38 in. (66 x 96.5 cm)
    Framed: 38 3/8 x 50 1/4 x 5 1/4 in. (97.5 x 127.6 x 13.3 cm)
  • Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. William F. Milton, 1923
  • Object Number: 23.77.2
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

Audio

Cover Image for 4584. Eagle Head, Manchester, Massachusetts (High Tide), Part 1

4584. Eagle Head, Manchester, Massachusetts (High Tide), Part 1

0:00
0:00
We're sorry, the transcript for this audio track is not available at this time. Please email info@metmuseum.org to request a transcript for this track.

    Listen to more about this artwork

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Annie Lawrie (Sheet music cover), Winslow Homer American, Lithograph
Annie Lawrie (Sheet music cover)
Multiple artists/makers
1850–59
Sunday Morning in Virginia – From the Painting by Winslow Homer in the National Academy of Design (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. XXIV), Winslow Homer American, Wood engraving
Sunday Morning in Virginia – From the Painting by Winslow Homer in the National Academy of Design (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. XXIV)
Winslow Homer
May 22, 1880
A Quiet Day in the Country (from "Appleton's Journal," Vol. III), Winslow Homer American, Wood engraving
A Quiet Day in the Country (from "Appleton's Journal," Vol. III)
Winslow Homer
D. Appleton & Co.
June 6, 1870
George Blake's Letter (The Galaxy, An Illustrated Magazine of Entertaining Reading, Vol. IX), Winslow Homer American, Wood engraving
George Blake's Letter (The Galaxy, An Illustrated Magazine of Entertaining Reading, Vol. IX)
Winslow Homer
January 1870
"I Cannot! It Would Be a Sin! A Fearful Sin!" (The Galaxy, An Illustrated Magazine of Entertaining Reading, Vol. VI), Winslow Homer American, Wood engraving
"I Cannot! It Would Be a Sin! A Fearful Sin!" (The Galaxy, An Illustrated Magazine of Entertaining Reading, Vol. VI)
Winslow Homer
September 1868

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Showing 4 of 6

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.