The artwork titled “End of the Portage” was created by the artist Winslow Homer in the year 1897. This piece is a genre painting executed in watercolor on paper, reflecting the Realism art movement. With dimensions of 53.3 by 35.6 cm, the artwork is part of the collection at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City, NY, United States.
“End of the Portage” depicts a moment in the outdoors, captured with a naturalistic approach characteristic of Realism. The scene centers on two figures engaging with a canoe in a rugged natural setting. In the foreground, one figure stands prominently holding the canoe above his head, ready to set it down or carry it, demonstrating a sense of strength and purpose. Another figure stands slightly behind, observing or preparing to assist. The painting’s composition emphasizes the physical effort associated with traversing the wilderness, possibly indicating the conclusion of a journey or a pause before the continuation of travel.
Homer has employed dynamic brushwork to render the light and shadow playing across the figures and their surroundings, which is especially evident in the sunlit portions of the artwork and the dappled shade beneath the trees. The watercolor medium allows for a variety of tones and transparencies, which enliven the depiction of the natural environment. The artwork captures a moment in time, emphasizing the intimate and immediate interaction between people and the landscape, central to the genre of painting to which it belongs.
