Shepherd and Shepherdess 1878

"Shepherd and Shepherdess" is a tile fireplace surround designed by American artist Winslow Homer in 1878. The work depicts a young man and woman, likely shepherds, standing against a backdrop of a bucolic landscape. The tiles are individually framed, creating a unique aesthetic within the overall composition, which is held together by a dark frame. Homer's signature style, evident in the bold figures and the emphasis on the natural world, is on display in this piece, which is currently part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's permanent collection.