The Last Days of Harvest (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. XVII) 1873

Editor: So, this is "The Last Days of Harvest" by Winslow Homer, published in Harper's Weekly in 1873. It's a print, so black and white, and it definitely gives me a sort of melancholy, end-of-summer vibe. All that harvested corn...it almost feels somber. What catches your eye? Curator: You know, melancholy is spot on. But not in a bad way. For me, it's a quiet kind of beauty. Look at how Homer uses line and shadow – it’s so precise. It’s about a moment, not just harvesting. And look how close everything seems, it’s an intimate experience, like the fields themselves are sharing their stories with us. He must have spent a lot of time studying every stalk, and then translating that into art. Don't you feel a sense of nostalgia here? Editor: Absolutely, especially with the two workers shelling corn on the ground! Almost like it's an age old memory. But what I'm wondering, in terms of symbolism, does corn have other symbolic meaning or historical meaning back then that we're missing? Curator: Ooh, good question! I think there is the idea of abundance, a thankfulness for nature's bounty but maybe there is a little more than meets the eye too. Don’t forget, the shadow of the Civil War still lingered. It's a way of showcasing rural American values – of the land and resilience and also maybe, an intentional avoidance of the urban turmoil, it’s both there and not there. Sort of makes you think about what gets printed and why, huh? Editor: Definitely gives it a whole new layer. I thought it was just a simple scene! Thanks! Curator: Art is hardly ever just simple scenes! It reflects more about ourselves than it reveals, I reckon. Makes you wonder if we can still listen closely enough.