What Shall We Do Next? (from "Harper's Bazar," Vol. II) 1869

Winslow Homer created this wood engraving, titled "What Shall We Do Next?" which appeared in Harper's Bazar. The composition is cleverly divided into two distinct spatial realms, creating a visual dialogue. On the left, we see a porch with a woman seated, head bowed, engrossed in her sewing. Adjacent to her are young girls quietly observing. To the right, a croquet lawn comes alive with a group of elegantly dressed women, their mallets raised, ready to strike. The contrast between the contemplative stillness of the porch and the implied action on the lawn raises intriguing questions about gender roles and social expectations of women during this time. The semiotic interplay between the static and dynamic spaces invites us to decode the underlying cultural codes governing women's activities and their negotiation of prescribed social norms. Note how Homer uses the formal structure of the image to examine the balance between domesticity and a burgeoning sense of independence and possibility, captured in the simple yet evocative question: "What Shall We Do Next?"