Framed Breezing Up (A Fair Wind) by Winslow Homer

Breezing Up (A Fair Wind) by Winslow Homer is an iconic American painting that captures the optimism and vitality of post–Civil War America. It shows a small catboat cutting through choppy waters under a brisk breeze, with three boys and a man aboard. The boys sit relaxed and confident, while the man steadies the tiller, their gazes fixed ahead toward the horizon. Homer balances the sturdy, sunlit figures with the rhythmic motion of wind-filled sails and sparkling waves, using warm tones and fluid brushwork to suggest both energy and stability. Painted during the nation’s centennial, the work became a symbol of youthful hope, self-reliance, and America’s maritime spirit.