The future of America
Winslow Homer (American)
1836-1910
Snap the Whip
1872
medium-oil on canvas
In the years after America's brutal Civil War (1860-1865),children-as the embodiments of innocence and the promise of America's future-became a popular artistic subject.Snap the Whip,one of Homer's most beloved works,evoked nostalgia for the nation's agrarian past as the population shift to cities,and the little red schoolhouse faded from memory.Released from their lessons the exuberant bare-footed boys engage in a spirited game of snap the whip,which required teamwork,strength,and calculation-all important skills for a reuniting country.
The future of America
Winslow Homer (American)
1836-1910
Snap the Whip
1872
medium-oil on canvas
In the years after America's brutal Civil War (1860-1865),children-as the embodiments of innocence and the promise of America's future-became a popular artistic subject.Snap the Whip,one of Homer's most beloved works,evoked nostalgia for the nation's agrarian past as the population shift to cities,and the little red schoolhouse faded from memory.Released from their lessons the exuberant bare-footed boys engage in a spirited game of snap the whip,which required teamwork,strength,and calculation-all important skills for a reuniting country.