Artwork
The Veteran in a New Field
The Veteran in a New Field is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Winslow Homer. It dates from 1865 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Winslow Homer's The Veteran in a New Field, an oil on canvas completed in 1865, captures a pivotal moment in American history.
Winslow Homer's The Veteran in a New Field, an oil on canvas completed in 1865, captures a pivotal moment in American history. Painted at the conclusion of the Civil War, it presents a solitary figure engaged in agricultural labor. The work is widely understood as a commentary on the nation's transition from conflict to peace, reflecting on the reintegration of soldiers into civilian life and the enduring impact of the recent war.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a lone farmer meticulously cutting wheat with a scythe under an expansive sky. His back is turned, obscuring his face, as he works through the golden field. Clues in the foreground, such as a discarded Union army jacket and canteen, identify him as a returning soldier. The scythe itself, a tool of harvest, also evokes its historical use as a weapon, subtly linking the present labor with the recent violence of war and themes of mortality.
Context
Created in the immediate aftermath of the American Civil War, this painting reflects the national effort to rebuild and heal. Homer frequently addressed the conflict in his art, with earlier works like Prisoners from the Front directly portraying battle scenes. The Veteran in a New Field marks a shift in his focus, exploring the quiet, often unseen, struggles of soldiers returning to civilian occupations and the psychological weight they carried from their wartime experiences.
History & Provenance
Winslow Homer completed The Veteran in a New Field in 1865, the year the American Civil War concluded. The artwork later entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art through a generous gift. Adelaide Milton de Groot, a notable art collector and philanthropist, donated the painting, ensuring its public accessibility and preservation within a prominent institution.
Artist & collection
Artist
Winslow Homer (February 24, 1836 – September 29, 1910) was an American landscape painter and illustrator, best known for his marine subjects.
