The New-Year 1869 1869

Editor: This is "The New-Year 1869," designed by Winslow Homer. It’s an engraving and has such a strange, dreamlike quality with all these symbolic figures. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a powerful commentary on the cyclical nature of time and societal progress, or lack thereof. Note how 1868 is literally being carted away by a weary figure, while 1869, represented by an innocent child, is guided, maybe even restrained, by a classically-inspired figure. Editor: Restrained? I hadn't thought of that. Curator: Consider the gaze of the allegorical figure – is it protective, or does it suggest a reluctance to fully embrace the future? What might Homer be suggesting about America's hopes and anxieties at the close of the Civil War era? Editor: So, it's not just about the New Year, but also about the nation's transition? I see it now. Thanks! Curator: Exactly! Art provides a lens to examine these cultural shifts.