New England Factory Life - Bell-Time 1868

"New England Factory Life - Bell-Time" is a wood engraving by Winslow Homer, created in 1868. This piece portrays a scene outside a factory in New England, capturing the moment when the bell rings, signaling the end of the workday. The artwork depicts a diverse group of workers, both men and women, leaving the factory. It highlights the working conditions and social dynamics of the industrial era, and serves as a powerful commentary on the lives of factory workers in 19th-century America. The composition is a mix of realism and social critique, capturing the daily routines of these individuals, with their individual stories and struggles emerging from the details of their clothing, expressions, and postures.