Three young women regrouping after a foray into the ocean was his most daring subject to date. By portraying two of the figures posed indecorously and unaware of being watched, he invites viewers to become voyeurs. The focal point is the woman wringing out her woolen bathing costume before doing the same with her hair. Critics who remarked on the painting when it was shown in 1870 were less disturbed by its disquieting mood than by the fact that, as one observed, ‘the figures were exceedingly red-legged and ungainly.’ When the painting was reproduced as a wood engraving in a family magazine a few months later, either Homer or the wood engraver covered the girls’ exposed legs with long underpants and replaced the frightened dog with a bathing cap, tempering some of the story’s candor. Winslow Homer was a renowned American artist, best known for his vivid and powerful depictions of the natural world and human life. His work primarily focused on landscapes, seascapes, and scenes of rural America, often emphasizing the relationship between people and nature. Early in his career, Homer worked as a magazine illustrator, documenting the Civil War with striking realism. However, it was his later paintings, particularly his dramatic seascapes, that cemented his legacy. Homer’s use of light, shadow, and color gave his work a dynamic quality, capturing the raw power of the ocean and the quiet resilience of fishermen and coastal communities. His ability to convey emotion through minimal detail, along with his mastery of watercolor, set him apart as a true innovator in American art. Pieces like “The Gulf Stream” and “Breezing Up” remain some of the most celebrated works in American art history, admired for their technical skill and emotional depth. Homer’s work continues to inspire artists and art lovers alike, offering timeless reflections on the human experience in the face of nature’s vastness and beauty.