"Dad's Coming!"

"Dad's Coming!" is an insightful print created by Winslow Homer (American, 1836-1910) and published in the widely circulated illustrated magazine Harper's Weekly in 1873. Executed as a wood engraving on buff wove paper, this work demonstrates the widespread influence of illustrated journalism in the United States during the post-Civil War era. Homer, known for his exceptional ability to capture contemporary American life and genre scenes, contributed frequently to magazines, utilizing the accessibility of prints to reach a broad national audience.

The scene likely depicts a moment of domestic anticipation or return, rendered with the directness characteristic of Homer’s realistic approach. Although simple in composition, the work utilizes strong contrasts inherent to the wood engraving medium to achieve impact, focusing the viewer’s attention on the narrative potential of the situation. This piece was created during a phase where the artist was frequently exploring themes of family, childhood, and simple rural or seaside leisure, often utilizing his distinctive cross-hatching technique for depth and texture. These published illustrations were crucial in establishing Homer’s early professional reputation before his later shift toward mastery in oil painting and watercolor.

As a popular illustration reproduced for mass consumption, the image offers important cultural documentation of American daily life in the mid-1870s. The enduring quality of Dad's Coming! ensures its status among the most notable American prints of the era. This valuable work is part of the extensive collection of American art held by the Art Institute of Chicago and, due to its age, is considered to be in the public domain today.