Apple Picking
1878 National Gallery of Art
About this artwork
This watercolor depicts two young women gathering apples in an orchard, showcasing the artist's mastery of light and shadow in a naturalistic setting. It is representative of his late 1870s work, which often focused on rural, pastoral themes.
Did you know?
Winslow Homer traveled to the town of Houghton Farm in Mountainville, New York, in the late 1870s, where he created a series of watercolors focusing on rural life and pastoral scenes. This period marked a significant shift in his career toward the medium of watercolor, which he eventually elevated to the same prestige as oil painting. The light in this piece perfectly captures the transient, golden-hour atmosphere common in his late 19th-century American landscapes.
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Apple Picking
Winslow Homer, 1878
