Between 1865 and 1870, Winslow Homer made four paintings centered on the theme of croquet; this work is the earliest example. A cheerful alfresco scene set in the countryside, Croquet Players is emblematic of post–Civil War American genre painting. Homer served during the war as a battlefront correspondent and illustrator for Harper’s Weekly. Afterwards he dedicated much of the rest of his career to creating affecting images of everyday American life that reflect nostalgia for simpler times. The game of croquet was introduced in the United States around the early 1860s and quickly gained popularity as an outdoor recreational activity in which both men and women could equally participate. Homer was attracted to the game’s ability to bring people together. Known to be a bit of a dandy, he also may have been drawn to the game as a platform for showcasing the fashions of the day. In both technique and iconography, Homer’s work from this time seems to parallel some of the modern trends in European painting, most notably the work of the Impressionists, who shared Homer’s use of sunlight and a high-keyed color palette.
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