Eagle Head

Winslow Homer’s "Low Tide" (1870) captures a moment of leisure and exploration on the New England shore, reflecting the growing appreciation for beach life in the Victorian era.

The painting features several figures, two women and a boy, accompanied by a small dog, all intently focused on something they have discovered at the water's edge. The title emphasizes the tidal cycle, the moment when the ocean retreats, exposing the mysteries of the intertidal zone. The figures are dressed in unusual, somewhat voluminous clothing, which was the typical bathing attire of the time, suggesting they are either preparing to swim or have just finished.

The work conveys calm curiosity and the pleasure found in the natural world's small details. It represents the early establishment of the American coastline as a place for recreation and healthy escape from city pressures, providing a quiet, contemplative scene far removed from the tensions of the recent war.