The Nooning (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. XVII) 1873

Winslow Homer created this print, titled "The Nooning," for Harper’s Weekly, published in August 1873. Homer’s work often romanticized rural life, but it’s important to consider the historical context: this image appeared less than a decade after the Civil War, a conflict deeply intertwined with issues of labor, race, and national identity. The scene depicts a moment of leisure, with children and a dog resting under a tree, while an adult figure tends to chickens in the background. Consider the concept of "the nooning," a midday break from work, and who has the privilege to rest. The figures are white, set against a backdrop of rural domesticity. While seemingly idyllic, the scene evokes questions about whose labor sustains this moment of leisure. The print invites us to reflect on the complexities of American identity, labor, and leisure in the post-Civil War era. It's a reminder that seemingly simple scenes can hold layers of meaning.