"I Call Them My Children" – To Myself, Susan (The Galaxy, An Illustrated Magazine of Entertaining Reading, Vol. VIII)

"I Call Them My Children" – To Myself, Susan (The Galaxy, An Illustrated Magazine of Entertaining Reading, Vol. VIII) by Winslow Homer, created in 1869, is a significant example of the artist's prolific work in illustration. This print, executed as a wood engraving, appeared in the widely circulated literary journal The Galaxy, reflecting Homer's crucial role in American publishing during the post-Civil War era. Wood engravings were the dominant medium for mass reproduction at the time, allowing Homer’s artistic interpretations to reach an unprecedentedly broad public.

The composition centers on an intimate group of figures, depicting both men and women likely engaged in domestic leisure or a garden setting. Although the specific narrative is derived from the accompanying magazine text, the visual elements suggest a moment of reflection or tender interaction. Homer carefully integrates the subject matter, showing detailed depictions of flowers and botanical growth which underscore the themes of nurture and development implied by the title. The arrangement of the figures and the detailed line work highlight Homer’s mastery of the graphic arts, a skill he would later translate into his mature paintings.

Produced just before Homer dedicated himself primarily to oil painting, this work provides valuable insight into his development as a figure illustrator and social chronicler. As a piece originally intended for commercial publication and now long past copyright, the image is often considered a public domain resource, facilitating widespread access and study of Homer's early career as a printmaker. This important example of 19th-century American magazine illustration is held within the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.