Peach Blossoms
Winslow Homer · 1878 · Art Institute of Chicago
Guide
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From the museum
Winslow Homer often depicted scenes of leisure in his early career. This painting features a young woman looking at burgeoning peach blossoms, indicating both early spring and perhaps her youth. The setting, which often recurs in Homer's oeuvre, reflects nostalgia for a fading rural past. Contemporary critics referred to the artist's style at this time as independent of foreign influences, suggesting an inherently American quality. However, his stylistic decisions link this work to both French and Japanese art. Impressionism inspired Homer's use of a lighter palette, and the attention to linearity in the tree is reminiscent of Japanese calligraphy. The painting thus serves as visual evidence of the global artistic exchange of the late 19th century.
The museum’s own description, in English. Licence: CC BY 4.0
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Details
- Maker
- Winslow Homer (American, 1836–1910)
- Date
- 1878
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- 33.7 × 49 cm (13 1/4 × 19 5/8 in.)
- Place of origin
- United States
- Held by
- Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · Not on view
- Credit line
- Gift of George B. Harrington
Image: Art Institute of Chicago, CC0
