Artwork
Shepherdess
Shepherdess is a drawing by the Impressionist artist Winslow Homer. It dates from 1878 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Shepherdess is a drawing by Winslow Homer depicting a young woman watching sheep graze in a sunlit field.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is a relaxed, simply dressed woman in a sunbonnet leaning against a fence. The image's playful quality is notable given Homer's personal life and unconventional modeling choices, which sometimes included boys dressed as girls.
History & Provenance
Homer created this work during a summer stay at Houghton Farm in Mountainsville, New York, in 1878, a country place owned by Lawson Valentine, his brother's business partner.
Artist & collection
Artist
Winslow Homer (February 24, 1836 – September 29, 1910) was an American landscape painter and illustrator, best known for his marine subjects.
