High Tide

1870

“Sea-bathing,” as it was called, was an activity to be approached with caution at this time. The trio of young women shown here may reflect such ambivalence in their curious estrangement from each other and sober attitudes as they emerge from the waves on an empty beach. This engraving was based on a painting by Homer exhibited at the National Academy of Design in 1870 as Manners and Customs at the Seashore. Although popular illustrations exploited the titillating aspects of lightly clad females on the beach, Homer’s subject was a daring one for an oil painting.