Homer first became aware of the potentialities of watercolor in 1873.¹ This and [Summer], both dated 1874, typify his early work in this medium.

The drawing is built up quickly with layers of body color. Although certain loosely-drawn passages, such as those in the girl’s apron, anticipate Homer’s later style, the generally tight handling is reminiscent of earlier drawings designed for reproduction by wood-engraving and therefore necessarily characterized by clarity of form.

—Egbert Haverkamp-Begemann, Standish D. Lawder, and Charles W. Talbot, Jr., Drawings from the Clark Art Institute, 2 vols. (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1964), 1:138, no. 333.