Haymaking 1864

Winslow Homer's "Haymaking" is a pencil sketch on paper created in 1864. The drawing depicts a young boy, wearing a straw hat and overalls, holding a rake. The figure is rendered in a realistic style, with attention to detail in the clothing and the boy’s posture. The background is lightly sketched, suggesting an outdoor setting. Homer's early drawings often focused on rural life and the everyday activities of working people. This drawing captures the simple dignity of labor, a theme that would become central to his later works.