The Dance After Husking 1858

Winslow Homer made this wood engraving, "The Dance After Husking," for *Harper's Weekly*. The illustration depicts rural life, but the ways it presents this is not always straightforward. Made for a widely circulated publication, this print catered to the interests of a broad readership, particularly urban elites who enjoyed sentimentalized views of the countryside. Note the romantic framing of the image. We see, on the upper panel, how farmers lead their harvest home, while the lower panel depicts a lively dance. The contrast suggests a harmonious relationship between labor and leisure, but what does it exclude? What are its politics of imagery? Further research into 19th-century American print culture, agricultural history, and dance traditions can illuminate the complex meanings embedded in Homer's seemingly simple illustration. The meaning of art changes based on where and when it is viewed.