"I Call them my Children - To Myself, Susan."

The nineteenth-century print, "I Call them my Children - To Myself, Susan." by Winslow Homer, was executed as a wood engraving in 1869. This demanding medium, requiring the translation of a sketch onto a wood block for mass reproduction, was essential to American print culture and the illustrated press during the Reconstruction era. The work is held in the extensive collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Homer created many such illustrations early in his career, often for popular periodicals like Harper's Weekly. Although the specific visual details of the scene are unknown without the image, the intimate nature suggested by the title, “I Call them my Children - To Myself, Susan,” reflects the artist's frequent engagement with contemporary genre scenes. Homer often focused on quiet domestic dramas and the interior lives of women and families in the United States. The accessibility of the wood engraving medium allowed Homer to distribute his vision widely, cementing his reputation as a keen observer of American life before he transitioned primarily to painting.

As an important historical example of 19th-century American illustration, this piece, along with many other Homer prints, documents the daily life and evolving social dynamics of the post-Civil War era. The meticulous detail required for a successful wood engraving showcases Homer’s early technical mastery. Due to its age and historical context, the work, sometimes referred to as I Call them my Children - To Myself, Susan, often falls within the public domain, allowing researchers and art enthusiasts continued access to Homer's foundational contributions to American art.