A Quiet Day in the Woods

The couple depicted in this secluded setting has been identified as Homer’s older brother Charles and his wife, Martha. Charles is absorbed in reading a newspaper, a sign of male involvement in a larger world. Martha sits nearby gazing over his shoulder—but at a slight remove with her book closed, suggesting a closer communion with the natural world. Their dress identifies them as urban visitors to the woods. As the cover image for a June issue of Appletons’ Journal, the illustration served to remind readers of the benefits to be gained during a summer excursion from the hectic city to a peaceful spot in the forest.