With its lose analysis of both Homer's art and the personal challenges the artist faced during his life, Winslow Homer: The Nature of Observation is the most comprehensive study to date of the relation between Homer's work and the psychological stages of his life. Elizabeth Johns, using theories advanced by Erik Erikson and Daniel Levinson, looks at Homer's evolution as a painter and a person experiencing the developmental stages of young, middle, and late adult-hood. She offers incisive and absorbing readings of his work at the turning points in his life.

With this psychosocial approach, Johns relates the wood-engraved illustrations of Homer's early career to the values of his family; his images of the Civil War to the context of his young manhood; his paintings of the social scene and young women's place in it to his own potential for marriage; his images of fisherwomen at Cullercoats and fishermen at Prout's Neck to his interior vision during middle age; and his intrigue with the sea in his late works to his identification with the larger processes of the universe. With more than 75 black-and-white illustrations and 40 color plates of the arresting images of this American master, Winslow Homer incorporates a rich trove of documentation, including the artist's correspondence at the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, and his entire body of work— illustrations, watercolors, and oils.

The book is in great overall shape with no major issues, just minor wear on the dust cover as can be seen in the photos.

This hardcover book, "Winslow Homer: The Nature of Observation" by Elizabeth Johns, published by University of California Press in 2002, is a great addition to any art lover's collection. With 226 pages and 256 pages, this book provides a detailed insight into the literary movement of naturalism and the works of one of the finest American painters of the 19th century.

The book measures 9.7in x 9.3in x 1.1in and weighs 48.3 oz. It is written in English and falls under the genre of art, with the topic covering individual artists and American art in general. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in art, and it will make an excellent addition to any library.