"Winter" – A Skating Scene (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. XII) 1868

Curator: Looking at this print, the overall impression is one of lighthearted movement. Editor: This is “Winter” – A Skating Scene, made by Winslow Homer in 1868. It was originally published in Harper’s Weekly, volume XII. It depicts a group of people, mostly women and girls, enjoying an afternoon skating. I’m curious about the setting, which feels very deliberate in showing a social outing against the backdrop of a changing social climate. Curator: There is such a captivating innocence in the scene, even down to the skirts swirling, evoking a feeling of youthful energy that's somewhat nostalgic. Homer seems to have been fond of portraying such vignettes of childhood. Editor: Indeed, and this piece resonates so strongly within the context of the post-Civil War era. The illustration, in its portrayal of women engaging in leisurely activities, touches upon emerging female social dynamics of the period, and ideas about female empowerment. There's a story of freedom from restraint that the image seems to telegraph, subtly and beautifully. Curator: I see it, almost an embodiment of the joy of freedom in a frozen landscape. It’s interesting that Homer uses very sparse, almost economic, lines here. Even the clothing, while detailed, doesn't weigh down the figures. I get a strong impression of liberation just by observing it. Editor: Yes! The very act of these women taking to the ice challenges certain conventions. Leisure became politicized because time becomes recognized as an important form of currency, available now, presumably to an expanding segment of the population that, historically, did not have the time or resources for activities such as skating. These figures actively shaping their leisure represents small but radical forms of agency. Curator: And perhaps on another level, this resonates to a larger idea around a "thawing out" or movement from some kind of restricted existence or condition. Homer captured something special here—it transcends just the portrayal of an afternoon activity. Editor: Agreed. This simple yet evocative depiction opens doors to a deeper understanding of social change during that time and is such an interesting expression about ideas surrounding identity, particularly regarding womanhood in late 19th-century America.