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The Life Line

Winslow Homer1884

Philadelphia Museum of Art

Philadelphia Museum of Art
Philadelphia, United States

The dramatic rescue from a foundering ship shown here was made possible by a recent innovation in lifesaving technology, the breeches buoy. Secured firmly to ship and shore, the device permitted the transfer of stranded passengers to safety by means of a pulley that was hauled back and forth by crews at either end. Cropped down to its essentials, Homer's composition thrusts us into the midst of the action with massive waves rolling past, drenching the semiconscious woman and her anonymous savior. The Life Line was immediately recognized by critics as a major contribution to American art, portraying a heroic, contemporary subject with both painterly virtuosity and detailed observation.

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  • Title: The Life Line
  • Creator Lifespan: 1836/1910
  • Creator Nationality: American
  • Creator Gender: Male
  • Creator Death Place: Prouts Neck, Maine, United States
  • Creator Birth Place: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
  • Date: 1884
  • Location: United States
  • Physical Dimensions: w44.76 x h28.62 in (Overall)
  • Provenance: The George W. Elkins Collection, 1924
  • Type: Paintings
  • Rights: © 2014 Philadelphia Museum of Art. All rights reserved.
  • External Link: Philadelphia Museum of Art
  • Medium: Oil on canvas
  • Artist/Maker: Winslow Homer, American, 1836 - 1910
Philadelphia Museum of Art

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