Raid on a Sand-swallow Colony – "How Many Eggs?" (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. XVIII)

Raid on a Sand-swallow Colony – "How Many Eggs?" (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. XVIII) is a compelling wood engraving created by Winslow Homer in 1874. Classified as a print, this work reflects Homer’s foundational career in illustration, where he frequently contributed designs to leading periodicals of the day. This particular image was published in Volume XVIII of the influential magazine, Harper's Weekly, a major platform for American visual culture during the post-Civil War era.

The subject matter captures a scene of rural American childhood, a recurring theme in Homer's oeuvre. The composition depicts two boys engaged in the titular "raid," investigating the nesting holes of sand-swallows (also known as bank swallows) along a steep embankment. The action focuses intensely on the anticipation surrounding the question posed in the subtitle: "How Many Eggs?" Homer skillfully uses the detailed lines inherent to the wood engraving technique to convey the texture of the soil and the excitement of the young subjects interacting directly with nature and the nesting birds.

This early work demonstrates Homer's talent for realism and narrative clarity, qualities that would define his later career in painting. The popularity and accessibility of these mass-produced prints allowed Homer’s distinctive imagery to reach a vast audience across the United States. Today, the original wood engraving is held in the prestigious collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of its historical significance and age, this important example of Homer's illustrative prints is often made available through public domain initiatives, ensuring widespread access to the master's historical records of American life.