Whistling for Plover 1874

Thomas Eakins painted "Whistling for Plover" with watercolor on paper; we aren't sure when. It depicts an African American man hunting birds, an interesting theme for the time. Eakins made this in the United States, likely in the late 19th century. The Civil War and Reconstruction Era were hugely important for race relations in the country. Given that context, Eakins's choice to portray a Black man engaged in a leisurely activity like hunting is striking. Was Eakins commenting on the shifting social landscape, perhaps suggesting a move towards greater equality? We see how the politics of imagery are at play here. It’s worth noting that Eakins was associated with the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and the image could also be seen in light of the institutional context of American art education. To really dig into this, we'd want to look at Eakins's biography, the reception of his work at the time, and, of course, the broader social and political currents of the era.