Gathering Berries (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. XVIII) 1874

Winslow Homer created this print, "Gathering Berries," for Harper's Weekly in the late 19th century, a period marked by significant social and economic changes in America. The image depicts a group of women and children engaged in the activity of berry picking. They are set against a serene landscape, with rolling hills and a distant coastline, evoking a sense of pastoral simplicity. Yet, this seemingly innocent scene is loaded. Published in the wake of the Civil War, as America underwent Reconstruction, the work romanticizes rural life, subtly addressing themes of labor, leisure, and the evolving roles of women and children in a rapidly industrializing society. The figures, with their backs to the viewer, invite speculation about their identities and lived experiences. Homer captures a moment of both communal activity and individual reflection. He invites us to consider the complex interplay between work, leisure, and identity in a changing nation.