Artwork
Sunday after Christmas 1848
Sunday after Christmas 1848 is an ink drawing by the Impressionist artist Winslow Homer. It dates from 1868 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
If you're interested in learning more about this style of drawing, you might want to explore the work of Homer, Winslow.
This drawing shows a boy holding a book, with a smaller figure nearby. The boy is wearing a hat, vest, and pants, while the smaller figure has a stick-like body and is labeled "Dan Wally." The background is a plain beige color.
The drawing includes some handwritten notes, including a quote about books and a mention of Christmas 1848. The handwriting is cursive and difficult to read in some places.
The drawing is a charming example of a simple yet expressive piece of art. If you're interested in learning more about this style of drawing, you might want to explore the work of Homer, Winslow.
Overview
Sunday after Christmas 1848 is a pen and brown ink drawing on wove paper, created by Winslow Homer in 1868. The work features a central boy and a smaller, stick-like figure labeled 'Dan Wally' against a plain beige background.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a boy dressed in a hat, vest, and pants, holding a book, alongside 'Dan Wally'. Handwritten notes include a quote on books and a reference to Christmas 1848, suggesting themes of literacy and seasonal reflection.
Technique & Style
Executed in pen and brown ink, the drawing showcases Homer's expressive line work. The contrast between the detailed, clothed boy and the simplistic 'Dan Wally' highlights the artist's ability to convey character through varying levels of detail.
History & Provenance
Created in 1868, the drawing's title references Christmas 1848, twenty years prior. The inclusion of handwritten notes, though partially illegible due to cursive script, adds a layer of personal or thematic context to the work.
Context
Sunday after Christmas 1848 reflects Homer's interest in everyday life and youth themes, common in his oeuvre. The emphasis on a book suggests an appreciation for literature, a value of the period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Winslow Homer (February 24, 1836 – September 29, 1910) was an American landscape painter and illustrator, best known for his marine subjects.
Buildings on the Praya Grande, Macau, with two studies of a Westerner
Sketches of Head, Arm, and Kneeling Figure
Study after "The Enchanted Monarch"![Two Figures and a Bench; Three Studies of Men's Heads and One of a Hand [recto], by Paul Gauguin](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/paul-gauguin--two-figures-and-a-bench-three-studies-of-men-s-heads-and-one--b308c9e6d9f9cfa9-w320.webp)
Two Figures and a Bench; Three Studies of Men's Heads and One of a Hand [recto]
The monumenr of Ann, wife of Francis Waring
Studies of Men
Half-Length of a Lawyer and Other Sketches
Mr Bumble degraded in the eyes of the paupers
William Godwin, novelist and historian
Signature, "TH. Nast, Oct. 17, 1901"![Figures Illustrating Balance and Perspective [recto], by John Flaxman](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/john-flaxman--figures-illustrating-balance-and-perspective-recto--9cd0e17470828f37-w320.webp)
Figures Illustrating Balance and Perspective [recto]
Studies of Men and Boys