Our Next President 1868

Editor: We're looking at Winslow Homer's "Our Next President," created in 1868. It's a wood engraving, so one of his graphic works, originally published in Harper’s Weekly. It feels…staged, almost like a commentary on societal expectations. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Staged indeed! It's got this wry sense of theater about it, hasn't it? Imagine stepping back into that era, post-Civil War. The artist is playing with this moment of rapid societal change, throwing women, quite literally, into the political mix! I mean, just look at the subtle inclusion of General Grant's portrait hung behind. Editor: It’s interesting how Homer juxtaposes a portrait of a general with the presence of women. What does it tell us about the shift in American ideology? Curator: Precisely! Notice the details: wine glasses, the formal attire, even the inquisitive expressions. This isn’t just a social gathering; it’s a performance of a new American ideal. The whole piece pulsates with both anticipation and a gentle kind of irony. Do you get a sense of that performative aspect from the expressions captured? Editor: I do. It's like everyone's waiting for their cue. Perhaps unsure, even, about what their roles are supposed to be. It gives a really strong sense of place and time. Curator: Right, it makes me think of this transition point where everyone's kind of…feeling around in the dark, fumbling toward some kind of brave, new future, unsure if the wine they’re sipping is celebratory or laced with something else entirely. Editor: I will definitely remember "Our Next President" with that lens in mind going forward. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure, every image tells a unique tale and this has definitely spoken!