About This Lesson
Select a date on this animated timeline to follow Winslow Homer’s artistic progression and see how his paintings chronicle America’s post-Civil War society.
Throughout his career Winslow Homer documented the lives of average Americans in a straightforward, spontaneous manner. He especially focused on the people who lived and worked on the edges of the sea. His distinct brand of realism advances democratic values and offers a compelling view of 19th century America.
The historical events and trends depicted in Homer’s art
- Technological advancements that influenced the Civil War
- The changing role of women in society
- The impact of Reconstruction on emancipated slaves
- The harrowing existence fishing the coast and the Grand Banks
- The rise of nature tourism
- The encroachment of commercial hunting and logging on the wilderness
