Our Next President

About this artwork

Research in Progress

Art Historical Context

**Our Next President** Winslow Homer (American, 1836–1910), October 31, 1868* Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of John Goldsmith Phillips,. Created just days before the pivotal 186 U.S. presidential election Winslow Homer's *Our Next President* captures a charged moment in American history. The date aligns with the contest between Republican Ulysses S. Grant, the Civil War hero, and Democrat Horatio Seymour amid Reconstruction's turbulent debates over civil rights and national healing. Homer, renowned for his realistic depictions of everyday Americans, often contributed illustrations to *Harper's Weekly*, blending sharp social observation with patriotic fervor. Classified among "figures," this work likely spotlights key personalities or symbolic voters, reflecting Homer's masterful style—bold lines, dramatic compositions, and an unflinching gaze at human resilience. As a leading figure in American Realism, Homer transitioned from wartime sketches to post-war narratives, making this piece a window into the era's political pulse and cultural optimism. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, *Our Next President* embodies Homer's enduring legacy of chronicling democracy in action. Though research continues, it invites visitors to ponder how art shapes our understanding of history's turning points.