Shepherdess Resting

About this artwork

Horizontal view of a woman, clothed as shepherdess, lying on the ground in an open field, with a crook beside her; a flock of sheep, and trees, are visible in the background.

Art Historical Context

**Shepherdess Resting** (1877–78) by Winslow Homer, a leading American realist painter (1836–1910), offers a tranquil glimpse into rural life. In this horizontal composition from the Smithsonian American Art Museum collection—gifted by Charles Savage Homer, Jr.—a shepherdess in traditional attire reclines gracefully on the grass of an open field. Her rests nearby, while a flock of sheep grazes peacefully amid distant trees, evoking a bond between humanity and nature. Created during Homer's prolific late-1870s period, the work exemplifies his shift toward intimate, naturalistic scenes after hi...