Which painting was created in 1778?

• A. Watson and the Shark
• B. Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair
• C. The Swing
• D. The Gulf Stream

Answer: (A)

Identifying the year a painting was made comes from knowing the artist and the historical moment it depicts. Watson and the Shark, by John Singleton Copley, was created in 1778. This places it in Copley’s London period, where he turned real events into dramatic history pieces. The painting portrays Brook Watson’s famous shark attack from 1749, and its bold composition and realism reflect late 18th‑century sensibilities in history painting.

The other options don’t fit the date. The Swing, by Fragonard, is from around 1767 and embodies the Rococo style of that era. Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair is a 1940s work by Frida Kahlo, a modern artist with a contemporary approach. The Gulf Stream, by Winslow Homer, dates to 1899 and shows late 19th‑century American realism.