What you are looking at
A man lies on the deck of a small boat whose mast has snapped, drifting in a rough sea surrounded by sharks, with a waterspout behind and a ship far away on the horizon.
Why it is famous
Homer painted it in 1899 and reworked it by 1906. It is one of his most famous scenes of people facing the power of the sea, and it leaves the sailor's fate open.
How big is The Gulf Stream?
The Gulf Stream measures 71.4 × 124.8 cm (28.1 × 49.1 in), without its frame. Its surface is about 2 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
Compare it with other paintings
Where to see it
It is in the American Wing of the Met in New York.
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More by Winslow Homer
Also at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Frequently asked questions
Who painted The Gulf Stream?
Winslow Homer painted The Gulf Stream in 1899.
Where is The Gulf Stream?
The Gulf Stream is in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, United States. (Gallery 767.)
How big is The Gulf Stream?
71.4 × 124.8 cm (28.1 × 49.1 in). Its surface is about 2 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
What is The Gulf Stream made with?
Oil on canvas.
Sources: The Met, "The Gulf Stream" (06.1234); Wikidata Q7738501; Wikipedia, "The Gulf Stream". Checked October 17, 2026. How we check.