Winslow Homer, Fox Hunt, 1893

Look to the bottom left of this painting to find Homer’s signature sunk into the snow, the same parallel angle of the fox. Is it a moment of humor or is the fox a proxy for Homer; cold uncertain snow beneath, cold ocean in the distance, harrassing crows above, sparse food. Is the fox hunting or being hunted? The signature is too outrageously funny to me, the way it breaks the fourth wall of the dramatic narrative taking place, it is a wink to the viewer, enjoy this painting, it is my joy.

I never doubt the fox will be okay, the gull in the distance above the violent waves - is hope. And science says when crows harass a fox like this it is called mobbing, and usually to protect their nests or to steal the foxes food.

Winslow homer scoops a place the world and bring it alive through the characters interacting with it. It is a great painting to analyze the slants and layers of color in the snow, but for me, held safe in the Philadelphia Academy of Art is the most memorable signature in the canon of art history.