Butterflies
1878 New Britain Museum of American Art
About this artwork
This oil on canvas painting depicts a young woman standing in a lush, verdant thicket while holding a butterfly net. It is a quintessential example of Homer's work during the post-Civil War era focusing on quiet, contemplative scenes of American life.
Did you know?
During the late 1870s, Winslow Homer transitioned away from his earlier, darker illustrations of the Civil War toward lighter, more atmospheric subjects of women and children in rural settings. This piece, 'Butterflies,' captures the Victorian fascination with natural history and amateur entomology, portraying the subject with a sense of gentle grace that was highly popular among Gilded Age collectors.
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Butterflies
Winslow Homer, 1878
