The Fourth of July in Tompkins Square, New York - "The Sogers Are Coming"

The Fourth of July in Tompkins Square, New York - "The Sogers Are Coming" is a dynamic wood engraving created by Winslow Homer in 1868. This iconic work captures a lively slice of post-Civil War life in the United States, illustrating the spontaneous exuberance of a major national holiday within the confines of a New York City park. As a highly successful illustrator for publications such as Harper's Weekly, Homer utilized the accessible print medium to swiftly disseminate visual narratives to a broad American audience during the complex period of Reconstruction.

Homer focuses specifically on the energy and innocence of childhood celebrations, depicting a large crowd of children gathered excitedly as a military parade approaches. The title phrase reflects the lasting national focus on soldiers and military presence just a few years after the conclusion of the Civil War. Classified specifically as a historical Print, this piece offers valuable insight into American culture and the visual memory of conflict. The clarity achieved through the labor-intensive wood engraving process allows for sharp delineation of the numerous figures and the architectural setting.

This significant example of Winslow Homer’s illustrated output, a pivotal piece of nineteenth-century American visual culture, resides in the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Because of its age and widespread early distribution, fine quality prints of The Fourth of July in Tompkins Square, New York - "The Sogers Are Coming" are frequently found within public domain collections today, testifying to the enduring relevance of Homer’s documentary vision.