Winslow Homer

This image of a young shepherdess derives from Homer’s time at Houghton Farm but also shows his interest in French artists whose works focused on peasant life, which Homer would have studied on a trip to Paris in 1867. Homer covered graphite underdrawing with transparent washes and used wet-on-wet layering to create overall softness with muted hues and a limited palette. Tiny specks in the foreground were achieved by lifting the paper off with a sharp tool.