Snap-the-Whip (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. XVII) 1873

"Snap-the-Whip" is a wood engraving by Winslow Homer, created in 1873 and depicting a group of young boys playing a popular children's game. The boys are depicted in a line, running through a rural setting, with the last boy in line being pulled along by the force of the "whip." This dynamic and energetic scene captures the joy and carefree nature of childhood, characteristic of Homer's later works. The wood engraving, originally published in "Harper's Weekly", demonstrates the influence of journalistic realism on Homer's art, offering a glimpse into the everyday life of children in the 19th century.