Two Boys Playing at the Creek, July 4, 1883
Original title: [Two Boys Playing at the Creek, July 4, 1883]
kurzbeschreibung
On 4 July 1883, Thomas Eakins made a photograph of two children riding in a simple wooden boat on a river. Further people are gathered on the bank beneath a tree. The picture is an albumen print.
Description
Two children work a plain wooden boat across the water: one sits at the stern and pushes off with a long oar, while the other looks ahead from the bow. Across the calm stretch of river, more children and adults have gathered in a meadow under a broad, spreading tree. Green, natural-looking banks line the water. The sepia tone of the photograph underlines its historical character. The arrangement stays plain and draws the eye to the children and what they are doing in the water.
Context
Dated 4 July 1883, the photograph was probably taken during leisure outings that the artist shared with friends and pupils. Eakins often used photography as an aid to his work in painting and sculpture. At the time, the medium was barely established as an artistic tool. The date falling on Independence Day suggests an informal, sociable occasion.
Impact
The image gives off a quiet, idyllic summer mood. Its sepia toning lends it something nostalgic and makes the scene seem timeless. Clearly laid out, the arrangement directs attention to the children's play at and in the water.
Technique
The sheet is an albumen silver print, a process widely used in the second half of the nineteenth century. A layer of egg white and salts was applied to the paper and made light-sensitive with silver salts. The picture was likely made with a large-format camera, as was common at the time.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)