The Veteran in a New Field (1865) — Winslow Homer

A soldier turns the page. Homer’s quietly monumental scene shows a lone man swinging a scythe through sunlit wheat—war behind him, work before him. Wide sky, rippling grain, and a purposeful gesture fold grief, relief, and renewal into one spare American landscape.

Why it captivates

• Aftermath made human — the Civil War’s end distilled to a single figure at work.

• Symbolic clarity — the scythe as time, toil, and the harvest of lives lost.

• Luminous plainness — unornamented forms, honest light, and open air.

• Modern restraint — powerful feeling carried by composition, not theatrics.

• Enduring subject — a timeless image of peace, labour, and starting over.

What you’ll see

A broad wheat field under a clear sky; a veteran in shirtsleeves cutting with a scythe. Near the edge, discarded military gear hints at the life he’s shed. Long, sweeping strokes describe grain and motion—resolve, rhythm, and quiet on a single sheet.

A richer historical frame

Painted in 1865, in the immediate wake of the American Civil War, Homer’s image reads as elegy and hope. The veteran’s tool—the scythe—echoes classical emblems of death and time, while the new field signals reconstruction and private renewal. It’s the poetry of ordinary work, elevated.

Choose your finish

🌟 Heavyweight Paper (160 gsm matte)
Archival-grade, smooth matte stock ideal for framing under glass. Crisp linework, minimal glare.

💎 Laminated (True Encapsulation)
Sealed in 2 × 80-micron gloss laminate, edge-to-edge. Durable, wipe-clean—perfect for busy spaces.

🪵 Laminated + Timber Hang Rails (Ready to hang)
Lacquered natural timber rails with fitted hanging cord; no frame required.
Please allow up to 10 working days for hang-railed delivery.

🏆 Archival Canvas (395 gsm HP Professional Matte)
Museum-quality texture with pigment-based, fade-resistant inks for rich tone and fine gradation.

🪵 Canvas + Timber Hang Rails (Gallery-ready)
As above, supplied with lacquered natural timber rails and hanging cord.
Please allow up to 10 working days for hang-railed delivery.

Size (W × H)

841 × 528 mm (approx. 33.11 × 20.79 in)

• Orientation: Landscape

• Aspect ratio: ~1.59 : 1

• Nearest standard frame: A1 (594 × 841 mm) — landscape

• Framing tips:

  • Use an A1 frame with a custom mat window cut to ~837 × 524 mm (2–3 mm overlap).

  • Contemporary look: float-mount in an A1 frame to reveal the sheet edge and create a clean shadow gap.

Custom sizing: Available on request (alternative aspect ratios or added white border).

Specifications

Who it’s for

• American art & history enthusiasts

• Designers & stylists seeking calm, meaningful landscapes

• Collectors of 19th-century realism and Homer’s work

• Gift-givers marking new beginnings or milestones

Our Commitment

Every print is produced locally in Australia on premium substrates with careful colour management, then checked and packed by hand so it arrives ready to impress. From studio to wall, we stand behind the craftsmanship and historical integrity of your piece.

Let Homer’s clear morning speak of renewal—order your Veteran in a New Field print today.