the marketing of undertow

The Clark collection includes correspondence from Winslow Homer to Edward D. Adams, the original buyer of Undertow. The two earliest letters reveal Homer’s management of the promotion and sale of an individual work, and his elder brother’s participation in the process, when it remained unsold in spite of being well-received in several public exhibitions. Homer sent a third letter to Adams eleven years later, including with it the six studies for Undertow displayed in a nearby case. A fourth letter, from Adams to M. Knoedler & Co., asks the dealers to convey the drawings to the new owner of the painting; Clark received them on October 29, 1925.

Letter from Winslow Homer to Edward D. Adams, January 14, 1889

Scarboro                                
Maine Jan 14th ’89

Mr Edward Adams

Dear Sir

My brother informs me that you have expressed a wish to have my picture (Undertow) on your wall in order that you may consider its merits with a view of making me an offer.

In complying with your wish I beg to say that you have my permission to keep this picture on your wall as long as you find it agreeable within a years limit

In regard to your making me an offer for it, I can state to you now that my price is $3,000, less whatever commission I should have had to pay to any dealers had they sold it. Its first exhibition was in Boston & they would have charged 20 percent that would make it net me $2400 and never will I take any less

There is no hurry, look at this a month or two before you conclude

And remember that I much prefer that this should be in your house for the winter than in my studio

If you will direct Mr Thos A. Wilmurt 54 East 13th St when to send the Picture

It will be at your order by Wednesday. The case leaves here this afternoon

Yours Respectfully
Winslow Homer

Letter from Winslow Homer to Edward D. Adams, July 16, 1889

Scarboro                                
Maine Jan 14th ’89

Mr Edward Adams

Dear Sir

My brother informs me that you have expressed a wish to have my picture (Undertow) on your wall in order that you may consider its merits with a view of making me an offer.

In complying with your wish I beg to say that you have my permission to keep this picture on your wall as long as you find it agreeable within a years limit

In regard to your making me an offer for it, I can state to you now that my price is $3,000, less whatever commission I should have had to pay to any dealers had they sold it. Its first exhibition was in Boston & they would have charged 20 percent that would make it net me $2400 and never will I take any less

There is no hurry, look at this a month or two before you conclude

And remember that I much prefer that this should be in your house for the winter than in my studio

If you will direct Mr Thos A. Wilmurt 54 East 13th St when to send the Picture

It will be at your order by Wednesday. The case leaves here this afternoon

Yours Respectfully
Winslow Homer

Letter from Winslow Homer to Edward D. Adams, May 12, 1900

Scarboro Maine
May 12­­__1900

Mr E. D Adams

My dear Sir—

It is only recently that it has been warm enough to move about here—but now I am happy to say that I have hunted up these different studies of the subject of the painting—“Undertow” that I promised to give to you—

I take pleasure in sending these things to you—They will amuse you much—

Yours very truly
Winslow Homer

Letter from Edward D. Adams to M. Knoedler & Co., March 16, 1925

March 16th, 1925
Messrs. M. Knoedler & Company
14 East 57th Street
New York City

Gentlemen:

Referring to the oil painting “Undertow,” by Winslow Homer, which you sold for me last year, I send herewith the original sketches made by Mr. Homer, when designing the picture. Also herewith his letter of May 12, 1900, transmitting the pictures.

It seems to me that these should properly go with the picture. Judging other people by myself, the owner would naturally be pleased to receive them, and I now place them in your hands for transmission to him.

Sincerely yours
Edward D. Adams
Enc.