Artwork
A Winter Morning, - Shovelling Out
A Winter Morning, - Shovelling Out is a print by the Impressionist artist Winslow Homer. It dates from 1871 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
A man shovels snow in front of a wooden house. Sunlight glints off the fresh white piles. His breath shows in the cold air.
This is one of Homer’s early works. He focuses on everyday life, not grand events. The snow looks thick and heavy, like it takes real effort to move.
Look up Winslow Homer (American, 1836–1910) to see more of his scenes.
Overview
Winslow Homer’s 1871 print *A Winter Morning, – Shovelling Out* presents a quiet rural tableau in which a solitary figure clears snow from a path before a modest wooden house. The composition captures the crisp light of a winter morning, with sunlight catching the freshly piled snow and the worker’s breath visible in the frigid air.
Subject & Meaning
The scene focuses on ordinary labor rather than heroic narrative, emphasizing the physical effort required to manage deep, heavy snow. By portraying a single man engaged in a routine task, the work reflects Homer’s interest in the dignity of everyday life and the relationship between people and the harsh seasonal environment.
Technique & Style
Executed as a print, the image relies on stark contrasts of light and shadow to convey the texture of snow and the solidity of the wooden structure. Homer's self‑taught background in commercial illustration informs the clear, direct rendering, while his later mastery of oil and watercolor is hinted at in the nuanced tonal gradations.
History & Provenance
Created early in Homer’s career, the print predates his most celebrated oil and watercolor works but already demonstrates his developing focus on American rural subjects. *A Winter Morning, – Shovelling Out* entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains part of the museum’s holdings of 19th‑century American prints.
Context
The work emerges from a period when American artists were turning toward domestic scenes and the depiction of labor in the post‑Civil War era. Homer, who began as a commercial artist, contributed to this shift by documenting the ordinary experiences of New England life, aligning his practice with broader trends toward realism and regionalism.
Artist & collection
Artist
Winslow Homer (February 24, 1836 – September 29, 1910) was an American landscape painter and illustrator, best known for his marine subjects.
