Genres of Paintings Painting Genres    

Lesson 12: Seascape - The Gulf Stream

by Winslow Homer

Directions

Study the artwork for one week.

Over the week:

• Examine the artwork.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Recite the artist and artwork names.
• Read about the artwork's genre.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

Winslow Homer's 'The Gulf Stream' portrays the survivor of a stormy sea floating in a floundering fishing boat, most likely somewhere near Florida and the Caribbean. The man's survival is not assured, as sharks circle his boat, rambunctious waves crest in the distance, and a waterspout looms on the horizon. However, there is hope. A three-masted sailing vessel is barely visible amidst the clouds. Will the sailors see the man? Will they reach him in time before his boat capsizes or he succumbs to dehydration?

Vocabulary

Seascape: A view of an expanse of sea.
Gulf Stream: A warm current that flows from the Gulf of Mexico, up the Eastern seaboard of the United States, and across the Atlantic Ocean.
Waterspout: A rotating column of water and spray formed by a whirlwind occurring over the sea or other body of water.
Capsize: Of a boat, overturn in the water.
Dehydration: A harmful reduction in the amount of water in the body.

Concepts

1. Seascape artwork depicts the water, waves, weather, ships, people, and lighthouses of the sea.
2. Seascapes may include views of both land and sea, boats and the sea, exclusively feature the sea, or even hint at what lies beneath the surface of the sea.
3. Whereas with seascapes, the central feature of the artwork tends to be the sea, artwork prominently featuring boats may be referred to as nautical art and artwork featuring commercial or military vessels may be classified as maritime art.
4. Study the subtle differences between seascapes, nautical art, and maritime art by examining Gustave Courbet's seascape, 'The Wave,' Vincent van Gogh's nautical painting, 'Fishing Boats at Sea,' and Hendrick Cornelisz Vroom's maritime painting, 'Dutch Ships Ramming Spanish Galleys off the English Coast, 3 October 1602.'

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Zoom in to find the following in the artwork:

• Floundering Fishing Boat
• Sharks
• Fins
• Tails
• Sharp Teeth
• Waterspout
• 3-Masted Sailing Ship
• Survivor
• Broken Mast

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

• After studying the artwork, narrate the scene shown aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Read McCabe's Curse

Read the excerpt from the poem 'McCabe's Curse,' which is said to have inspired Winslow Homer to paint 'The Gulf Stream.'

• Land of cursed rocks and stones,
• Land where many leave their bones,
• Land of rascals, rogues, and peddlers,
• Busy scandalizing meddlers;
• Land of poverty and want,
• Where pride is plenty, money scant,
• Take this, my very heartiest curse,
• And, if I could, I’d give you worse;

Activity 4: Color the Water Surrounding Florida and the Caribbean   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 26 of 'Art History Coloring Pages for Second Grade.'

Activity 5: Color the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 27 of 'Third Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Activity 6: Create Your Own Seascape   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 28 of 'Art History Coloring Pages for Second Grade.'
• Using crayons, color pencils, pastels, or paint, create your own seascape.
• Beforehand, discuss whether you plan to create a true seascape featuring the ocean, nautical art featuring boats, or maritime art featuring military or commercial vessels.
• Think about the water, land, boats, weather, sea life, people, and other features you wish to incorporate.

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the artwork?

1 / 5

Answer 1

The character is the surviving man on the boat.

1 / 5

Question 2

What is the setting of the artwork?

2 / 5

Answer 2

The setting is the ocean Gulf Stream, most likely near Florida and the Caribbean.

2 / 5

Question 3

What threatens the continued survival of the man in the painting?

3 / 5

Answer 3

The sharks, roiling waves, dehydration, and waterspouts threaten the continued survival of the man in the painting.

3 / 5

Question 4

What hints at hope for the survival of the man?

4 / 5

Answer 4

The three-masted ship on the horizon hints at hope for the survival of the man.

4 / 5

Question 5

Into which genre is this painting classified?

5 / 5

Answer 5

This painting falls into the seascape genre.

5 / 5

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the artwork? The character is the surviving man on the boat.
2. What is the setting of the artwork? The setting is the ocean Gulf Stream, most likely near Florida and the Caribbean.
3. What threatens the continued survival of the man in the painting? The sharks, roiling waves, dehydration, and waterspouts threaten the continued survival of the man in the painting.
4. What hints at hope for the survival of the man? The three-masted ship on the horizon hints at hope for the survival of the man.
5. Into which genre is this painting classified? This painting falls into the seascape genre.

References

'Seascape.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'The Gulf Stream (painting).' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'The Gulf Stream.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.