Hi Roger,
I think I can see what you mean. I will attempt an explanation.
In his first travel to Europe, Winslow Homer stayed in Paris for nearly two years and he naturally frequented the artists very in vogue at the time, notably Monet and other impressionists. And for all his claim that he never studied other artists' works, he might have been somewhat influenced by those of Monet, for whom he apparently professed a keen admiration.
Other than that, I believe that if it is not the water, the technique, or the predominantly blue color in Monet's paintings, it is the quiet and private atmosphere in them that is beneath your appreciation. This atmosphere may originate in the fact that just like many of them, Homer Winslow's watercolor also does not show any sky, which added to the gloomy hour focalizes it further giving the impression of a closed space. This effect is also shown in his sketch for "Hound and Hunter" (see the forest-like background) (and in others apparently belonging to the same series), and perhaps in his On the Trail, the two of these shown in previous pages of this topic.
Claude Monet's painting below shows this clearly.
Claude Monet - Water Lilies at Dusk
That Winslow Homer was influenced by Monet is clearly shown in his own painting below, which actually is not very typical of his more mature works but did earn him an important award in his country, USA, on his return from France. And no one will deny that it looks exactly like "a" Monet, even if it is not very characteristic of Monet's late master pieces but, rather, of his earlier works.
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Winslow Homer - Artists Sketching in the White Mountains
Well Roger, I had planned to comment on your post in a few lines but it came out almost a full thread. See what happens when the subject is engrossing.
Best Wishes,
Miguel