On the Stile

Winslow Homer's "On the Stile," an 1878 watercolor, invites us to share a tender moment between two young people. The National Gallery of Art proudly holds this delicate work, drawn on off-white woven paper. Measuring just over 11 by 8.5 inches, the intimate scale draws us close. A young woman, dressed in a light blue, polka-dotted dress and straw hat, steps down from a rustic wooden stile. Her hand is clasped in that of a young man, his back to us, who pauses on the upper step. Their gazes meet, suggesting a shared secret or a whispered promise. Homer masterfully uses the slant of the stile to create a dynamic composition, leading our eyes across the scene. The verdant greens of the surrounding grass and trees hint at the warmth of a summer's day. A hazy blue sky and distant mountains evoke a sense of peaceful solitude. "On the Stile" is a quiet masterpiece, capturing a fleeting moment of connection amidst the beauty of nature.