Artwork

Shepherdess

Shepherdess, by Winslow Homer, 1878
Shepherdess, by Winslow Homer, 1878

Shepherdess is a drawing by the Impressionist artist Winslow Homer. It dates from 1878 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.
1924.489
Credit line
Gift of Dr. J. A. Vincent

About this work

Overview

Shepherdess is a drawing by Winslow Homer depicting a young woman watching sheep graze in a sunlit field.

Subject & Meaning

The subject is a relaxed, simply dressed woman in a sunbonnet leaning against a fence. The image's playful quality is notable given Homer's personal life and unconventional modeling choices, which sometimes included boys dressed as girls.

History & Provenance

Homer created this work during a summer stay at Houghton Farm in Mountainsville, New York, in 1878, a country place owned by Lawson Valentine, his brother's business partner.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Winslow Homer

Artist

Winslow Homer

Winslow Homer (February 24, 1836 – September 29, 1910) was an American landscape painter and illustrator, best known for his marine subjects.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.

Frequently asked questions

Who painted Shepherdess?

Shepherdess was painted by Winslow Homer in 1878.

Where can I see Shepherdess?

Shepherdess is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Shepherdess?

Shepherdess is associated with Impressionism.