The Last Load 1869

"The Last Load" (1869) by Winslow Homer (1836-1910) depicts a rural scene of farm workers returning home from a day of labor. The drawing, held in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, is an example of Homer's early works, which often focused on the lives of common people. This work, in particular, shows the farmers and their family walking across a field, highlighting the laborious nature of farm life. Though executed in black and white, the drawing emphasizes the richness of the landscape and the simple dignity of the people, capturing the essence of rural life in 19th-century America.