Watching and Waiting for a Hurricane

Watching and waiting for a storm...While here in Florida we are watching the weather and waiting to see where a potentially massive tropical storm may go...it reminded me of Winslow Homer's work, The Gulf Stream.  Winslow Homer was an early American realist painter who first worked illustrating civil war battles for a newspaper.  After a probable nervous breakdown due to the horrors of war, Winslow began painting again.  When hurricanes threaten Florida I always think of this piece. It is a poignant art work showing danger lurking and seeing it from the view of an observer. In the foreground are sharks with sharp teeth and angular fins threatening, blood  floating on the water, a water spout that seems to be approaching and a ship in the far distance...perhaps hope.  The ships mast is broken and the sail torn, the boat is adrift. It is a painting that tells a story of man against nature.

THE GULF STREAM BY WINSLOW HOMER     from google image

After the Hurricane            from google image

Hurricane Isaac, satellite view

So while we all wait and watch, wondering where hurricane Isaac may hit and what damage it may do-I wish you all in harms way safe harbor during this time. 

Winslow Homer                                American Realist    google image

Florida, my home state, is under a tropical storm watch with flooding and high winds.  I was on my way home from New Orleans when the storm intensified and got help up in the Northern part of the state.  While watching the weather and tv updates I thought about one of my favorite paintings of storms and danger, that of Winslow Homer.  This picture is brought with danger from the waterspout to the left, the sharks in the forefront and the only ship that is of hope far away in the distance.  With a broken mast there seems little hope.  If you have a favorite artist who you think of in stormy weather let me know and the art work you like.

Winslow Homer

Winslow Homer                                              After the Hurricane

For most of the history of our species we were helpless to understand how nature works. We took every storm, drought, illness and comet personally. We created myths and spirits in an attempt to explain the patterns of nature.
Ann Druyan