The Milk Maid, 1878, watercolor over graphite on paper, Gift of Ruth K. Henschel in memory of her husband, Charles R. Henschel The size of this watercolor and its highly finished state suggest that Homer was attempting to create what English artists called "exhibition watercolors"—works that were intended to rival the aesthetic power and impact of oil paintings.
Fresh Eggs, 1874, watercolor, gouache, and graphite on paper, Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon
Homer often reused the same figures in different scenes. The girl in this work appeared previously in a drawing, an oil painting, and two watercolors. More generally, she is related to the many solitary figures of women that appear in Homer's work especially during the 1870s, including The Sick Chicken and Fresh Eggs.
