Autumn in New England, Cider Making

A warm autumn light fills the farmyard as people gather around the work of cider making. Apples are collected and pressed, horses stand patiently near the barn, and the large tree at the center glows with yellow leaves at their peak. Fences, tools, and buildings form a familiar pattern shaped by years of use, while distant hills soften into the background. The scene feels active but unhurried, guided by season rather than schedule.

Painted by George Henry Durrie, this work reflects rural New England life at a moment of transition between harvest and winter. Cider making was both practical labor and a social event, bringing neighbors together to prepare for the colder months ahead. Durrie presents the activity as part of a steady cycle, where work, landscape, and community are closely linked. The painting carries a sense of abundance and quiet satisfaction, showing autumn as a time of shared effort, reward, and readiness for what comes next.