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Oranges on a Branch

Winslow Homer American

Not on view

Many of Homer’s images of the Bahamas evoke the idea of the islands as a paradise created especially for tourists. Enjoying local fruits was perceived as a fundamental luxury of the visitor experience, as one contemporary guidebook noted: "Oranges to daily break our fast in the morning, and delightfully crown our afternoon meal, are felt to be a necessity. Without them the most elaborate feast fails to satisfy." This vibrant watercolor, a rare still life by the artist, offers a complete sensory experience—ripe citrus, bright green leaves, and fragrant blossoms are bathed in warm sunlight.

Oranges on a Branch, Winslow Homer (American, Boston, Massachusetts 1836–1910 Prouts Neck, Maine), Watercolor on paper, American

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