"Allow Me to Examine the Young Lady" (from "The Mistress of the Parsonage," in "Harper's Weekly")

"Allow Me to Examine the Young Lady" (from "The Mistress of the Parsonage," in "Harper's Weekly") is a significant wood engraving by Winslow Homer, dating to 1860. This print exemplifies Homer’s early professional career as a highly sought-after illustrator for influential American periodicals. Before establishing himself as an acclaimed oil painter, Homer worked extensively in the labor-intensive medium of wood engraving, creating detailed illustrations that could be rapidly printed alongside news and serialized fiction in publications like Harper's Weekly.

The scene, illustrating a passage from the fictional narrative "The Mistress of the Parsonage," depicts an intimate and focused domestic interaction. Homer uses strong lines and high contrast, techniques necessary for effective mass reproduction, to define the figures and the enclosed interior setting. The composition centers on the figures of the men and women involved, capturing a specific moment suggested by the title—a close, potentially awkward, social or medical scrutiny of the young woman. Such images were crucial components of 19th-century visual culture, commenting on or reflecting contemporary social customs and gender roles.

This impression of the work is held within the esteemed collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Homer's early illustrated publications, such as Allow Me to Examine the Young Lady, are critical documents showcasing his developing talent in figurative composition and narrative art before the Civil War. Given the age and nature of its original publication, the image is now commonly considered to be in the public domain, ensuring that these important historical prints remain widely accessible for public study and art appreciation.