WINSLOW HOMER The New Novel, 1977

This vintage exhibition poster was produced for a 1976 exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art and features The New Novel (1877), a celebrated watercolor by the American master Winslow Homer.

The composition depicts a young woman reclining in a lush field, fully absorbed in her book. Dressed in a vivid vermillion gown, she rests her head on a casually placed jacket, her posture conveying both ease and deep concentration. Homer’s sensitive handling of light, color, and natural setting transforms this quiet moment into a powerful meditation on introspection and independence.

Created during a period when women’s leisure—particularly solitary reading—was often viewed as frivolous or even subversive, The New Novel carries a subtle yet profound cultural resonance. The figure’s complete immersion in her reading can be seen as a quiet assertion of intellectual autonomy, challenging the restrictive social expectations of the Victorian era.

The identity of the model remains unknown, though she appears in several of Homer’s works from the late 1870s before disappearing entirely from his imagery. This recurring yet enigmatic presence has long intrigued historians, adding a layer of mystery and personal narrative to the work.

The original watercolor is housed in the collection of the Springfield Museums, specifically the Michele & Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts.

Beautifully printed, this poster captures the lyrical stillness and psychological depth of Homer’s composition while presenting it within a clean, modern exhibition format. A compelling piece for collectors of American art, museum pos