Winslow Homer, 1872, Oil on Canvas, Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown
Winslow Homer, one of the most renown 19th-century American artists, painted Snap the Whip, one of his most beloved paintings, only a few years after the United States’ horrific Civil War.
In this painting nine young boys are playing the popular kids’ game, Snap the Whip, in front of a small, red schoolhouse. Their clothes—the caps, suspenders, knickers—reflect late 1800s American attire. Their bare feet exude childhood freedom. They are pulling and tugging one another with fun, free abandonment. Their faces are illuminated by the soft light peeking through the clouds. They are the focal point of the entire composition. The landscape, including the mountains, trees, and flowers, are tangible. The painting speaks of pure innocence and simplicity.
Growing up in the 1950s and 60s, though a century later, I remember playing kickball, hide-and-go-seek, and tag in the cul-de-sac where I lived as a very young child. I remember roaming through acres of trees and streams playing Tarzan with my brother. I spent hours crawling through culverts, never wondering what small varmint could be crawling around in there. I could ride my bike all day with friends, knowing I just needed to be home for dinner. I felt no fear. My parents felt free to give my brothers and me free rein to explore and play.
Today, schools are surrounded by gates. Security systems have been placed in many schools nationwide. Children cannot go on a bike ride without their parents knowing exactly where they are at every moment. A child must be accompanied by an adult when trick-or-treating. A child no longer has freedom to simply “be” a child.
I’m hopeful that this won’t forever be the norm, that the current climate of fear and apprehension gives way to an air of optimism and freedom, a chance to let our children experience the world around them on their terms. Yes, safety is important, but there’s a thin line between protecting our kids and holding them back. When we collectively learn to respect others, and especially to protect children, treating every child as if we adults are responsible for their well-being (which I believe we are), perhaps the world will become a safe place for youngsters to explore and discover.
Children embody innocence and the promise of our planet’s future. In portraying rural simplicity and the joy that kids often find so readily when playing together, Homer reflected on the peaceful, carefree moments of childhood, even in the midst of challenges that surfaced in a complex post-Civil War world.